2-9-2010

Another day in paradise! Water is way low. Temp at 40 degrees. Fished carefully through a couple pools with a dry. The little Caddis looked great but moved nothing, not even a cutt or a dolly. Moved to another pool. A real rock garden along the far bank. A long cast with later beam loops to get under the branches to the rip rap on the far side. Went through with the dry and moved a couple of cutts and a small salmon smolt. Sat down for a break and a think. Decided on a tiny 1/2" Ally's Shrimp on a 1/8" tungsten tube. Fly is swimming nicely through the submerged stones. Then just as it started to come under tension a ferocious whack. A moment later a nice grab and fish on. A few jumps and runs and the little buck was in my hands. A perfect little wild Steelhead. There have been a LOT of wild fish in this river this Winter. The DFW says there are no wild fish left in this system, oh well. These fish was MINT bright with a pale red stripe and rosy cheeks. A wonderful way to end the day.