Fishing with Susie and Sandy

[Foghorn]

         So Susie and I decided to make an overnight trip to Bennett Springs. We had only fished it one day this year due to all the construction, small fish, and busy schedule. We called Sandy(Miss Laker) on the drive down and she agreed to meet us at the park. We had been fishing maybe an hour when Sandy found us in Zone 1. We had last visited in December so after some visiting it was time to fish.

         The fishing was good for a while but as usual the bite slowed down with all three of us catching fish. About that time, I decided to put an old favorite on "the green and gold". Susie almost simultaneously said " I'm going with the green and gold".  It's a pattern I had come up with maybe 30 years ago and is often a game changer when the fishing gets tough. It's nothing more than some medium olive antron dubbed on the back of a small 18-20 scud hook with some antron squirrel belly dubbed on the front half of the hook. I use a dark brown thread to dub it and tie it off.  Sandy had never used this fly but decided to give it a try as it was working pretty well. Susie had moved upstream and was pounding them pretty good and was getting some looks of either disgust or admiration or both from some male anglers. I had told several of the guys fishing around us to give these girls some room or they'll make you look bad!                                                                               Sandy had made a cast and her line started moving upstream. She said "I'm not sure what it is but it feels pretty good." The fish was putting a pretty good bend in her rod and for a brief second or two we got a glimpse of a 4.5-5# rainbow before the hook pulled out. We hadn't seen any fish this size so it did come as a bit of a surprise. This fly can be hard to see under the best conditions and with the wind putting a light chop on the water, it makes for a real challenge. And the girls fished it well.                                                                                                                 

[Foghorn]

      And I submitted the fishing trip before I finished it. We continued to catch fish with it between some breaks to rest some aching backs. I walked downstream and turned to see the girls sitting at the edge of the stream catching fish. It brought back old memories of Laker and I sitting on the bank at the point where the island starts in Zone 1 catching fish and visiting. We finished fishing, sat and drank a cold beverage in the parking lot and then went for dinner at the lodge. Sandy headed home and Susie and I headed for the motel.                                                                                                                                  On day 2, we started below the bridge in Zone 2 and found fish in the gravel . It was hot and heavy on egg colored furs bugs for a good bit. We did venture on downstream and the green and gold and fur bugs worked well. The fish were small but the time shared was priceless. Saw old friend Mike Runyon Friday and old friend Mike Pickard Saturday. We hadn't seen Mike P in almost 20 years. Our connection  was big brown trout. In 2003, I was fortunate enough to catch what was then a new park record. Mike and his family were in the park that day. We struck up a good conversation and would see each other from time to time. Late in 2003, Mike's Dad , Roger, caught the new park record. Sadly Roger passed away several years ago.  

[ness]

Nice report! It’s cool when you catch on a fly you tied; cooler when it’s your pattern!

[laker67]

I'll be eagerly awating my care package, Jeff