One really nice thing about fishing a spot on the way to Seattle is that, typically, one has the chance to try again, on the way back.
So it was, this week.
The return day was warmer, and on the edge of a shifting front, so there were some good and bad points to contend with.
First, arriving with an air temp of 74 degrees, at this altitude and early in June, was a nice start. I had hoped to see a good uptick in water temp, as a result. Low 40’s are, after all, a bit limiting for dry flies. For this day, the water had almost reached 50, which is getting into a better range, at least.
Unfortunately, the front that appeared to be driving some of the temperature changes was also kicking up wind.
Not the soft, steady kind of wind, either. Those I can work with.
This was that “pause long enough to lull you into thinking you can cast, then hammer you with a gust that puts the line almost into your face” kind of wind. I honestly think I would get 3-second pauses (long enough to get into a solid backcast) followed by 10 or 15-second rushing and swirling blasts. Frustrating, to say the least.
Couple this with a water flow that was 50% higher than two days prior (which apparently skyrocketed shortly after I left, thanks to the 74-degree day), and the prime section of the river was farther from shore.
So, very few casts that got anywhere near where I wanted them to be.
I see a hand up, to ask a question…?
You must be new here. No, I did not have waders with me. See Tuesday’s post, HERE, for why not.
In the end, having stopped to eat my lunch, cast (or try to) a few times, and taken a few pics, it was still a relaxing visit.
As my good friend and fly fishing mentor used to say “you’d have to try hard to find an ugly place to fly fish.”
Thanks KK.
I’ll leave you with this, to help spread the relaxation around.
Tight lines…