Phil Lilley

This has been a strange month, fishing wise. Nonstop 21,000 cfs isn't unusual... it's the way the trout have acted that's strange, at least compared to past events like this. For the first 2 weeks (at least), about the only place to get a bite was between the cable at the dam down to the MDC boat ramp - on scuds. And they were picky about how the fly was presented too. The regular rig didn't work as well. But using a slip bobber and a 20-25 foot leader did work. Most regular people won't/can't do that. It takes a fairly long spin rod or fly rod and the know-how to rig the slip bobber. We/I fished from Lookout down, from Fall Creek down trying to find a bite - it was tough. But then all of a sudden, they started biting below Lookout on scuds. It was really good. Then we started catching fish below Fall Creek. Other flies started working - big fluffy san juan worms and egg flies. Shad flies below the dam - and white jigs - started working because more threadfin shad were coming over the dam. The guides said this morning the bite all the way down to our place is good, mostly scuds. Fish being cleaned are packed with the bugs. So my question, and I know I'll never know the answer, is did these trout head to the dam at first spillgate run, then gradually move back down or did they never move, just didn't bite for a couple of weeks.?? I'm grateful they're biting again - mainly for the common angler who just wants to catch a few trout to eat. We went a long time where very few trout were cleaned here at the dock. The guides were catching fish but very few below 12 inches in the trophy area. We're in for an awesome summer fishing season! When this water slows down, fishing will be much easier and there are a TON of nice trout in the lake. And they're all over the place. We're had several 22-26 inch trout caught in the Monkey Island area this weekend. The big ones have spread out!

Classic comeback.

Ah... so I brought the fish on the right in closer to the camera. I see. Just a little bit made a big difference.

Smells political... Wrench... where in the world do you come up with these pics. That's amazingly gross!!

Different fish. I thought I was in the same spot each time. I don’t usually hold a fish over the boat rim in case I drop it but maybe not.

Which fish is longer? Screen shot from my GoPro. Same angle but 2 different rainbows. The one on the right was caught first. I guessed the length at less than 20 inches... may be 19. The one of the left was caught later. It was for sure well over 20 inches, I guessed 22 inches. I was surprised when I saw the video and took the screenshot - how much they look the same. The one of the right actually looks a little bigger but they weren't really that close. The left one was a beast!

Not yet. I've been looking. He might have moved.

We've (me and most guides) have been drifting and fishing the stretch below Fall Creek with little success. Why? Where did they go? I guess they didn't go anywhere. But they finally got hungry. Yesterday Jeremy Rasnick told me he did well on a trip so I tried it doing One Cast. It was pretty good.

Not asking for a pass.... and I do rub Jackson's ears.

Classic... may be you should write. You have a gift.

I see I didn't post it here - the tournament itself - but I know some have mentioned it. We only have 4 signed up. And it's supposed to storm... and high water... so we're going to do it another day. No, we're going to reschedule it when @Seth and @JestersHK can come.

Pushing 30 inches.

Refresh my memory... I don't remember that column.

No. Been by there a few times and tossed a jig in the area. Have not seen him.... yet.

I hope it doesn't move north like it normally does.

16,652 but that's including everyone... people who I let in and those I lock out.

Shall we dare?!

Had to share this - new members trying to get in. Chisinau, Chișinău Municipality, MD-2000, Moldova, Republic Of China (IP location) and.... Curtains Blinds Dubai (screen name)

It will be at least 6 more days, without a significant rain. We're tired of it... the recreational person is having a very hard time catching fish, esp if they don't want to boat to the dam and some don't. Steve from Wichita told me after I got back to the dock that he and his wife were at the dam earlier and saw lots of shad in the water and the fish were fighting over them on the surface. Of course catching was unreal. While I was up there doing One Cast, it was all forming. I took one pic of the edge of it. The pic doesn't do it justice. The lake is still dropping. .44 in the last 24 hours but that's down from .52 yesterday per day.

Still raining... it won't move

Shouldn't effect the lake level much.

May be our Bill Babler... looks like Shell Knob area. 8-10 inches in an hour.

Not trying to talk you into it... but you don't keep any fish. Measure them all, write it down. It's going to be a light attended contest this year. The high water I think is keeping people at bay.

Got out too late this am. Sun came out- the place was too lit up. Evening is better. Darker on that bank. Also lots of rises along that bank in the evening... already have the 4 wt with an elk hair tied on.