Got My Four

[Justin Spencer]

After working on the campstore retrofitting today I snuck out for a couple hours of fishing, the first I'd done since the water came up. I always enjoy fishing the opening of trout season with no one else around, just me and the dogs. To tell you the truth, I'd forgotten how it was to fish the river with good water flows, it had been so long. Today it was around 750 cfs compared to the 300 cfs most of the winter, and to be honest with you it kicked my butt. Couldn't cast where I wanted to, spent some time getting flies out of trees and tried out a few new patterns that flopped. After not catching anything for 30-45 minutes I put on a nymph and an egg and quickly hooked a nice colorful rainbow on the egg. I'd also forgotten how they fight in the strong fast current. This fish had some of the reddest fins I had ever seen, the picture like usual doesn't do it justice. Fished another hour or so and caught a total of 4 (all on the egg) with a couple other long distance releases. A great evening on the river and another "limit" on the opening day of trout season.

[flytyer57]

On the evening news on KSPR, they showed the crowd at Bennet. Some people should take notice of your post and head out to different waters to fish opening day. How can anybody fish when the next person fishing is less than 2 feet away? How many crossed lines do these people have to put up with before they get the hint?

I guess maybe they just like fishing for the stockers.

[troutfiend1985]

On the evening news on KSPR, they showed the crowd at Bennet. Some people should take notice of your post and head out to different waters to fish opening day. How can anybody fish when the next person fishing is less than 2 feet away? How many crossed lines do these people have to put up with before they get the hint?

I guess maybe they just like fishing for the stockers.

I have never understood the opening day thing. It just seems to be one big cluster cruck of a mess. I guess if maybe your dad or grandpa used to take you as a kid and its become a family tradition, then ok. But otherwise that just cannot be fun.

Justin seems to have it down right, fishing on a large freestone with no one around. Nic pics and reports.

[Andrew324]

I actually had a good day a the opener at Roaring River, despite there being crowds. I started in the catch and release area when the horn went off and I was all by myself, and landed some really nice fish right off the bat. I actually had riffles and runs to myself in zone 3 too. The nice thing about being a fly fisherman is that you can fish water and wade where others don't; so many anglers probably think "that water is too shallow" not noticing the large silver flashing going on under the surface. I think a lot of people just cast to the fish they can see, but when your nymphing hard and landing more fish than any spin casting angler, it gives you one of those "yes!" feelings. Yeah the opener is shoulder to shoulder if you want to cast micro-rods to pools full of 400 fish, but if you bring your waders and hit that overlooked water, its all the sweeter. I was literally landing fish on darn near every drift, and I fed my girlfriend baked trout tonight.

But, I will say after today I will be ready to go back to seeking solitude and releasing fish back into the stream, it was a change of scenery thats for sure.

[Trout Commander]

After working on the campstore retrofitting today I snuck out for a couple hours of fishing, the first I'd done since the water came up. I always enjoy fishing the opening of trout season with no one else around, just me and the dogs. To tell you the truth, I'd forgotten how it was to fish the river with good water flows, it had been so long. Today it was around 750 cfs compared to the 300 cfs most of the winter, and to be honest with you it kicked my butt. Couldn't cast where I wanted to, spent some time getting flies out of trees and tried out a few new patterns that flopped. After not catching anything for 30-45 minutes I put on a nymph and an egg and quickly hooked a nice colorful rainbow on the egg. I'd also forgotten how they fight in the strong fast current. This fish had some of the reddest fins I had ever seen, the picture like usual doesn't do it justice. Fished another hour or so and caught a total of 4 (all on the egg) with a couple other long distance releases. A great evening on the river and another "limit" on the opening day of trout season.

How much wadable water is left at your place with flows in this 700-800 range? I am trying to swing a trip down this weekend and still haven't convinced a victim fishing buddy to spring for the drifter (and with the weather having turned I bet someone else will be in it).

[sean c]

I think wading is very doable at the current flows. TC if you go stop in and say hi I will be there with a couple of buds Thursday - Sunday. We will be in one of the sleeper cabins with a white toyota and a grey drift boat.

[Trout Commander]

Sounds good, Sean. Chances are looking good that I will be able to make it. If I am there I will be in a white Jeep Commander and will probably have an orange pack on my back.

[sean c]

Sounds good I will keep an eye out for you.