The Sol Duc begrudgingly yielded a couple of native fish on Tuesday. One up high in the C&R area above Sappho. Another down below the old Rayonier plant. Both were small, about 6-7 pounds. I'm stoked because these are my first winter runs on the spey rod after a couple of months of frustration.
The river was high, but clearing with 2-3 feet of visibility up high. Less than that down below. I recalled some advice from Dennis Dickson. When the river is high, the fish are oriented to the banks in the softer water. In these conditions, he uses his LEAST dense sinktip so that the fly will remain suspended as you swing toward the bank. So I changed over to the Type 3 tip on my Midspey and started working the edge with orange and black GP's.
Then I remembered another Dickson axiom. Hair flies work better in streamier flows, but maribou flies have great action in slow water. So I put on a very gaudy Popsicle Skagit Minnow.
Three casts and sure enough, I get the classic grab. I managed to wait for the fish to turn and tighten up on the fly. Good solid hookup, big bend in the rod, keep the tip low. Run, run, wind, wind. Tailed the fish with my WDWF-approved white cotton glove. Quick picture followed by a textbook release.
I wish I still smoked, because it was definitely Cubano time. :smokin:
The river was high, but clearing with 2-3 feet of visibility up high. Less than that down below. I recalled some advice from Dennis Dickson. When the river is high, the fish are oriented to the banks in the softer water. In these conditions, he uses his LEAST dense sinktip so that the fly will remain suspended as you swing toward the bank. So I changed over to the Type 3 tip on my Midspey and started working the edge with orange and black GP's.
Then I remembered another Dickson axiom. Hair flies work better in streamier flows, but maribou flies have great action in slow water. So I put on a very gaudy Popsicle Skagit Minnow.
Three casts and sure enough, I get the classic grab. I managed to wait for the fish to turn and tighten up on the fly. Good solid hookup, big bend in the rod, keep the tip low. Run, run, wind, wind. Tailed the fish with my WDWF-approved white cotton glove. Quick picture followed by a textbook release.
I wish I still smoked, because it was definitely Cubano time. :smokin: