Keeping It Simple

[MikeH]

I arrived at the river yesterday before the sun with plans for a day of big flies, bigger fish and 60 degree weather in my head. Things didn't pan out like I was dreaming but still ended up being a good day. The water was a little off color like I had hoped so I rigged up to chuck some big streamers like I had planned. The forecast was around 60 but that was a long way off. Icy guides and frosty fingers made for a rough morning. I managed a handful of follows and an all too brief hookup but a little before lunch I decided to switch out the big stuff for my 4WT. Partly because I was sick of casting half a chicken into the wind, plus, there was a caddis hatch starting to come off.

The hatch still wasn't coming off much so I euro-nymphed. My anchor flies got flat out ignored all day instead they wanted the little stuff I had on dropper. I never got a bite on anything bigger than a #16. My best decision all day was to tie on a little Sawyer style pheasant tail. It's the simplest fly I carry, just wire and pheasant tail, not even any thread. The same fish that ignored my fancy streamers were all over it, including three nice browns.

The caddis finally started showing in numbers and there were risers here and there. Unfortunately I had waded all the way past Ashley creek and didn't have too much daylight left. I had time to pick off a half dozen or so on a CDC and Elk(another super simple fly) on my way back but I couldn't spend much time at any one spot. Hiking out in the dark is not fun.

[Geoff]

Those are some great looking browns!!

[BruteFish83]

You just never know what's going to work until you try it all. Nice fish and and report!