Maries River

[creek wader]

Well, I figured my succes would be short lived. It was. I couldn't wait to get back down and hit the spot upstream again. I made it on Mon. 7/7. It was blistering hot, around 95. Water was super clear and very low. Like most smaller streams the water level flucuates greatly in it's upper reaches. On July 2, it's flow was only 50 cfps and 1.3 ft. (I caught 50 + bass). On July 3, it was at 3500 cfs, and 7.3 ft. (I caught some nice ones on the 4th). Then I went on the 7th, it was 150 cfs and 1.7 ft. (I only caught 2 smallie dinks and a black dink). I've noticed that when the river is dropping that the fishing is poor. The opposite when it's rising. When it's stable for a week or better, I usually do well. Anyway, the deep hole that slowed my momentum last time was no problem on Monday. It was knee deep or less. That should of warned me. I think that unless a person has a lot of time to wade a couple of miles to find the fish, the upper Maries is pretty well done till next spring. I did run into two people fly fishig, they weren't catching much either. I think I'll try the Big Tavern next trip.