8/4 Tailwater Trip

[Nick Adams]

I made it down Monday morning. I got there about 730 and there were only a few people there. Maybe 5 or 6. I was surprised. They were all in the old Rebar Riffle.

I started at Outlet 2. There was no one there, and no fish either. It was too shallow, about ankle deep. I expected fish to stack up by my legs but they never did. I made my way below the Rebar Riffle and past the tree. No one was catching anything. I tried San Juan in red (my confidence fly), bugger in black, a brassy midge, and some other things I don't remember.

Finally about 9, I put on a weighted chamois worm. About the 3rd cast, I hooked up. It was solid, and I honestly thought the fish was foul-hooked because it was fighting hard and I couldn't turn it. I was using 4lb fluorocarbon, so I didn't take it too easy. I took in line, it took line, and I finally saw that it was hooked in the mouth, and I got nervous. I brought it to net finally. It was a personal best on a fly rod. I was guestimate 18 inches based on the size of my net. The opening is 18 inches, and it was about that size. It was thick, too. Nice enough that the old guy next to me made a comment. I got awful pics because I wanted to get it back in the water. In retrospect, I should have beached or asked a neighbor to snap a better picture. Oh well.

I caught a couple more on a Humphrey's Cress Bug. The Rebar Riffle heated up, but it almost looked like they were shuffling. No accusations, but facing downstream and drifting scuds doesn't seem like fishing. I left before they started the water, mainly because I had to go the bathroom. Someone immediately took my spot. I don't really know what I'm doing, but I find the rest of that water impossible to fish. It's so still and clear and they fish just roam randomly

Here's the picture. Like I said, it doesn't do justice to a beautiful fish.

 

[Quillback]

Congrats, that is a chunk!