loaded up the camper and grabbed my better half and headed off for cold flowing water. 99 big ones on the thermo on the way out of town...I wont miss you! When we hit the high valley the Fork was blown so it was onto the Pan!
We headed up high for a good camp site away from the heat and the people. Before long we were picking out camp sites and marveling at how much water was in the rivers and streams. Run-Off is in full tilt! We had to go to 10k before we found clear and low enough water on the creek system we were in.
Normally the h2o is too low to fish this area of the creek but now it is deep and fast. The usually skiddish and fearful browns that inhabit the cutbanks of this little gem are wary predators that rarely let you make a mistake without bolting away for an hour to wait for you to kindly move on. Today they were reachable.
Ruth managed a first fish only a few minutes into it. These pretty browns are wild-wild and a pleasure to catch.
The next morning we headed down to the big river. Flows are lower on the river as they are trying to fill the reservoir above. The river started off with a bang! Ruth wanted to work more on her nymphing and so we set up in a nice drift hole.
This is kinda what it looked like all over the dadgum river.
As I was sitting in my river chair tying up my rod, Ruth hollers that she has a fish on. I look down and she has hooked a 25-plus inch rainbow and the fish is absolutely freaking out. 20-50 foot spurts that were done in blazing speed.
long story short. fish got off after a 10 minute fight.
She was just delighted...we let em go anyways, that was easy....I am in shock. She is calm and cool. I just rolled my eyes and walked back up to the hole.
She tells me to get in and cast a minute as she was gonna play with the pup. I threw up and mended and instantly my indicator tears off to the side, fish on. Holy smokes, it is another giant rainbow...only 22-23 this time, but man what a fish. I am giving chase down the bank of this brutal jagged rock river telling myself I have to touch this fish.
Yes....you guessed it. It came off. Here's the look of Agony and Defeat.
Mentally wrecked from seeing two of the biggest rainbows we have hooked in the lower river in a long time make us feel like rookies.
Time for some grub. Rejuvenate and move down for some pocket water dry fly fishing. I tied on a Stimmy and a Royal Wulf. Let's make this fun and productive.
Ruth is always with here trusty friend...sometimes more of a hindrance than a help but always near.
She loves fishing too...
We managed a good lot of fish on the surface and it just made the day to see those tremendous top water hits!!
Steep hike out, long ride home. Dog is dog tired...so are we.
Fish On!
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Up the Pan...without a Fork.
Anywhere can be the land of great expectations, broken dreams, or paradise found, it's all up to you.
Looks like you had a good time
JP
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