Water was high, and it was difficult to get good drifts in some of the larger rivers…I did manage a stab at some new TMA (Trout Management Area)…but found it to be a bit tough. Flows were high, the pools were 8+ feet deep with high water. For the most part, it was very featureless water, which made leaving very easy.
The next stop was to an old brook that was full of natives many years ago…since then, the state has made it into a Class 3 Wild Trout Management Area. While some trout are stocked, the majority of the fish are native…making each catch a little more meaningful.
I managed to loose my first brown after a nice long battle as soon as I touched the leader. The fish was nice sized for the water…maybe 12”. The next fish was smaller, but a bit more willing to take by hand. Both fish took a copper john. With afternoon plans, I left after the fish came to hand.
Sunday was up early and fishing with the Father-in-law. We grabbed the coffee, and were exploring some new water that he had heard of. Again, the high water kept any offerings well off the bottom, and above any feeding fish. We trekked back to the place I had gotten my fish the day before, but it was tough spin fishing for Gary. We headed off to “Old Reliable” to get the skunk off our backs, and I quickly brought a nice 7” brookie to hand. At that point, we fished it for a few more minutes and took off to the last and final spot…the same spot that had yielded the native rainbows for Thanksgiving weekend…And no doubt it ended up being the most frustrating of all…
As expected, the water was high, and nymphing was impossible. I attempted for a few minutes, but switched over to a large, black, cone headed bugger. It was the heaviest fly I could find in my steelhead box, and worked a cut bank for a few minutes. I then moved to the bridge. Just as I was getting ready to make the “lets get out of here nod” to Gary, I had a take very late in a swing under the bridge.
Sure enough, 5 casts later, I had a take, and saw the flash of golden drop down stream. After about 20 minutes of making the same swing, I called it, and headed back to another family function. Seeing the 2nd take, and realizing it was a decent sized fish (14” or so) swimming down stream was quite frustrating…
Anyways, I will do more family and friends tomorrow…take a break from the rod and let the waters drop. Tuesday I will have the entire day to get lost in the woods somewhere and just find new pools, runs, and riffles to pick trout out of…
Anyways, here’s the weekly pictures…Made the trip in just over 8 hours on Friday night, and did manage to pry myself out of bed on Saturday with the promise of coffee and some remote trout streams from my childhood. The problem we faced (And are still facing) is high water. At the beginning of the week, there was 10+ inches of snow on the ground. Christmas was rainy and warm, as was Saturday morning…
Water was high, and it was difficult to get good drifts in some of the larger rivers…I did manage a stab at some new TMA (Trout Management Area)…but found it to be a bit tough. Flows were high, the pools were 8+ feet deep with high water. For the most part, it was very featureless water, which made leaving very easy.
The next stop was to an old brook that was full of natives many years ago…since then, the state has made it into a Class 3 Wild Trout Management Area. While some trout are stocked, the majority of the fish are native…making each catch a little more meaningful.
I managed to loose my first brown after a nice long battle as soon as I touched the leader. The fish was nice sized for the water…maybe 12”. The next fish was smaller, but a bit more willing to take by hand. Both fish took a copper john. With afternoon plans, I left after the fish came to hand.
Sunday was up early and fishing with the Father-in-law. We grabbed the coffee, and were exploring some new water that he had heard of. Again, the high water kept any offerings well off the bottom, and above any feeding fish. We trekked back to the place I had gotten my fish the day before, but it was tough spin fishing for Gary. We headed off to “Old Reliable” to get the skunk off our backs, and I quickly brought a nice 7” brookie to hand. At that point, we fished it for a few more minutes and took off to the last and final spot…the same spot that had yielded the native rainbows for Thanksgiving weekend…And no doubt it ended up being the most frustrating of all…
As expected, the water was high, and nymphing was impossible. I attempted for a few minutes, but switched over to a large, black, cone headed bugger. It was the heaviest fly I could find in my steelhead box, and worked a cut bank for a few minutes. I then moved to the bridge. Just as I was getting ready to make the “lets get out of here nod” to Gary, I had a take very late in a swing under the bridge.
Sure enough, 5 casts later, I had a take, and saw the flash of golden drop down stream. After about 20 minutes of making the same swing, I called it, and headed back to another family function. Seeing the 2nd take, and realizing it was a decent sized fish (14” or so) swimming down stream was quite frustrating…
Anyways, I will do more family and friends tomorrow…take a break from the rod and let the waters drop. Tuesday I will have the entire day to get lost in the woods somewhere and just find new pools, runs, and riffles to pick trout out of…
Anyways, here’s the weekly pictures…
Up river at first TMA...
Down river at first TMA
We don't see these back in Ohio...
First fish of trip...Nice native brownie...
Closer...
Even closer...God I love the colors...
Wild Trout Management Area...
First Brookie of trip...Well see how the rest of the trip fares...I'm anxious to get back to the bridge and pull that fucker I missed twice...
Hope Holiday's are going well for all...Mid-week update coming when we transition over to Steelheading...
Also, gift pictures are coming, and Jenna's has front runner written all over it...NIGHT!
Housing Unit Trial 2...
And Another...
Have you ever seen the "Ice Stone" Pattern...
