Still fishing

While the fishing on the North continues to be tough, I've said this throughout the summer and I'll say it again, just cause. If you fish hard, fast and cover good water you'll run across one. With the Oct. 1 stonefly nymph hatch over with, fishing pressure will drop off, and hopefully our bigger fall fish will show in good numbers.

 Jim had spent the entire day without a touch, it was getting late on our straight through day. Not wanting to give up just yet, he opted for one more spot. The fishing gods smiled upon us that day, the sun was beating down, as we stepped into position a big cloud rolled over and covered the run in shade. That's not all the gods did for us though. Near the bottom end, I'd say within at least 5 casts of being done and fishless, a fish rose to the dry. The line came tight and Jim lifted, only to prick the fish. A four letter word echoed through the canyon. We both felt the dissappointment, I know the fisherman miles downstream felt mine. But, there is always something new to learn about these fish, it is never the same, day in day out. Checked the fly and tossed it back in there, the fish ate and the rest is history.

Have a few days off and headed to California to visit some old friends. The Rogue is fishing well and should only get better.

Rich

Back to fishing...

The North Umpqua continues to be tough, but like I've said before, if you put in the time and have some optimism, it's gonna happen. Had a really good day, it'd been awhile, we went 1 for 4. Not a bad day of steelheading anywhere. Right now it's about being in the right spot at the right time, we've all heard that before. When it's tough like this, you have to throw in some odd ball spots, change up a bit.

Chris rose one of the biggest steelhead I've seen in awhile, he/she cleared the water in it's first attempt, missed, then just erupted on it during the same swing. The kind of eruption, that I was just waiting for the line to start ripping of the reel, but it didn't happen. Couldn't believe it. Went through the whole routine. Put the original fly back on, a huge head came out, again I thought it had it, nope. Couldn't get it back. I'll remember that fish, I know Mollie will too.

 We saw some decent fishing, in the aftermath of a really good thunderstorm and the following colder air temps.

Most know this by now, and I'm a little late in posting it. But, it was really cool to see the river flowing through here, and the steelhead and salmon have nothing to stop them until Lost Creek dam. Corny fish joke: What did the fish say when it hit a concrete wall?

Answer to corny joke: " Dam!?"