It was already in place , plans were made a couple days in advance , had the "go ahead" from the better half . Actually she noticed I was getting a little stir crazy and new the remedy , a day on the water , no pressure , just swingin' flies and some soul cleansing . So I reciprocated by waking up the kids , making lunches and getting them off to school , while she stayed sleeping . Once the kids were out the door to catch the bus and the kitchen was all cleaned up , it didn't take long to pack the truck and hit the road . Stopped in to a favorite coffee shop and grabbed a Sumatra and a breakfast sandwich for the drive , knowing I needed to slow down if I truly wanted to enjoy my day .
As I rounded the bend close to the entrance of the river access , I wondered if the gate was open .... if not , that would be a long walk . I was in luck , the gate was open , but the trail had seen better days !! Covered in snow , ice , mud and some sections flooded , I decided to put the Expedition to the test . I locked in the axles and a way we went , slow and steady , climbing the snow packed hills and through the flooded valleys .... no issues !! The Expedition may be pretty , but it can role in the mud with the best of them :hihi:
Walked along the path and gazed over the cliff to look at the state of the river .
It was at a good level , but I quickly noticed the streams of snow melt into the river below .... it was on the rise ... and by adding the snow melt , I knew the water temperature was dropping . This set the theme for the day , low and slow controlled swings . Off came the floater and on went the intermediate to break through the surface and control the slower swing and relieve the line of any added tension . So now I had the line method worked out , now what to swing ??
I came across a Snow Fly hatch and knew it was a good start
I started out with this variation of the Beauly Snow Fly that I tied in hand .
Hook: Partridge HE2 #2/0 (long Bartleet)
Tag: Medium french embossed tinsel
Body: Equal sections of blue and purple seal fur
Rib: Medium French embossed tinsel
Hackle: Black Heron (legal)
Wing: Bronzed peacock eye herl
Collar: Orange schallapen
Cheeks: JC nails
Head: Black
I started in my favorite run , a boulder laden section of the river that for me has always produced fish . A cast across and slightly down with a quick feed of extra line , then follow the line without tension until the line is direct with the tip and a slight down stream lay over for a nice , slow , controlled swing :smokin: Several casts later I reached the part of the run that has the highest concentration of large rocks . I could feel the line bouncing the tops of the rocks and knew I was swimming the Snow fly in between the rocky field . I felt a bump about mid-swing and immediately fed some line , as the line came tight and started to swing I felt a sharp jolt and my gear and pawl started to back-spin and the tip of my rod started to bounce uncontrollably . The pull was exhilarating and knew it was a good fish !! My Meiser seemed to act like a perfect shock absorber as the Olson growled back . Twice the fish came close to hand but both times I failed to tail it , being just out of arm reach making me look like a rookie . The chrome large shoulders overpowered the currents and it crossed the river to the rocky section where it made short work of my 10lb Maxima .... fish and fly lost .
I quickly collected myself , looped on another section of tippet and searched through my tubs to find the next offering . Back up to the top of the run and a seat on the bank while I ate my sandwich and planned my next run through . I could clearly tell the river was rising , but remained a decent clarity . I took another glance at the chosen fly . This time a variation of a fly that was shown by a frequent poster in this forum Brent .
The fly is the Rock Fodder with a slight variation , I added peacock swords , a light blue tag that is cross-ribbed with x-fine silver wire and used UV purple peacock for the wing slips .
Hook: Blue Heron #1 (re-shaped)
Tag: Silver tinsel and light blue floss , cross-ribbed with x-fine silver wire
Tail: GP crest , forked and long , veiled with flo. pink GP tippet
Body: Black seal , with throat of red seal
Rib: Medium silver French embossed tinsel
Body Hackle: Purple schallapen
Collar: Black heron (legal)
Wings: Peacock swords and UV purple peacock
Head: Black ostrich
I wish the fly had a different name because for some reason I couldn't get that B-52 song out of my head "Rock Lobster" :chuckle: As I approached the middle of the run , I wondered if I let the fly dangle long enough . Knowing the water was cold , I knew that steelhead will often follow the fly into the shallows and observe it . On the next cast I allowed the fly to sit on the dangle a little longer , pump once ... pump twice ... WHAM !! Reel screaming and my heart was keeping pace . This time the chrome flash on top was very noticeable , this fish was electric and it was unexpected that it cart-wheeled across the river .... that's when the fly came hurling back at me . But that did not dampen my spirit at all , my arms where raised as I belted out a large WAHOOOOOO !!!
I could see why the steelhead took this offering , very sexy when wet . Look at the swords in the wing and the POP of the veiling !!
It was a fun , relaxing day , I just wanted to share
Mike
As I rounded the bend close to the entrance of the river access , I wondered if the gate was open .... if not , that would be a long walk . I was in luck , the gate was open , but the trail had seen better days !! Covered in snow , ice , mud and some sections flooded , I decided to put the Expedition to the test . I locked in the axles and a way we went , slow and steady , climbing the snow packed hills and through the flooded valleys .... no issues !! The Expedition may be pretty , but it can role in the mud with the best of them :hihi:
Walked along the path and gazed over the cliff to look at the state of the river .
It was at a good level , but I quickly noticed the streams of snow melt into the river below .... it was on the rise ... and by adding the snow melt , I knew the water temperature was dropping . This set the theme for the day , low and slow controlled swings . Off came the floater and on went the intermediate to break through the surface and control the slower swing and relieve the line of any added tension . So now I had the line method worked out , now what to swing ??
I came across a Snow Fly hatch and knew it was a good start
I started out with this variation of the Beauly Snow Fly that I tied in hand .
Hook: Partridge HE2 #2/0 (long Bartleet)
Tag: Medium french embossed tinsel
Body: Equal sections of blue and purple seal fur
Rib: Medium French embossed tinsel
Hackle: Black Heron (legal)
Wing: Bronzed peacock eye herl
Collar: Orange schallapen
Cheeks: JC nails
Head: Black
I started in my favorite run , a boulder laden section of the river that for me has always produced fish . A cast across and slightly down with a quick feed of extra line , then follow the line without tension until the line is direct with the tip and a slight down stream lay over for a nice , slow , controlled swing :smokin: Several casts later I reached the part of the run that has the highest concentration of large rocks . I could feel the line bouncing the tops of the rocks and knew I was swimming the Snow fly in between the rocky field . I felt a bump about mid-swing and immediately fed some line , as the line came tight and started to swing I felt a sharp jolt and my gear and pawl started to back-spin and the tip of my rod started to bounce uncontrollably . The pull was exhilarating and knew it was a good fish !! My Meiser seemed to act like a perfect shock absorber as the Olson growled back . Twice the fish came close to hand but both times I failed to tail it , being just out of arm reach making me look like a rookie . The chrome large shoulders overpowered the currents and it crossed the river to the rocky section where it made short work of my 10lb Maxima .... fish and fly lost .
I quickly collected myself , looped on another section of tippet and searched through my tubs to find the next offering . Back up to the top of the run and a seat on the bank while I ate my sandwich and planned my next run through . I could clearly tell the river was rising , but remained a decent clarity . I took another glance at the chosen fly . This time a variation of a fly that was shown by a frequent poster in this forum Brent .
The fly is the Rock Fodder with a slight variation , I added peacock swords , a light blue tag that is cross-ribbed with x-fine silver wire and used UV purple peacock for the wing slips .
Hook: Blue Heron #1 (re-shaped)
Tag: Silver tinsel and light blue floss , cross-ribbed with x-fine silver wire
Tail: GP crest , forked and long , veiled with flo. pink GP tippet
Body: Black seal , with throat of red seal
Rib: Medium silver French embossed tinsel
Body Hackle: Purple schallapen
Collar: Black heron (legal)
Wings: Peacock swords and UV purple peacock
Head: Black ostrich
I wish the fly had a different name because for some reason I couldn't get that B-52 song out of my head "Rock Lobster" :chuckle: As I approached the middle of the run , I wondered if I let the fly dangle long enough . Knowing the water was cold , I knew that steelhead will often follow the fly into the shallows and observe it . On the next cast I allowed the fly to sit on the dangle a little longer , pump once ... pump twice ... WHAM !! Reel screaming and my heart was keeping pace . This time the chrome flash on top was very noticeable , this fish was electric and it was unexpected that it cart-wheeled across the river .... that's when the fly came hurling back at me . But that did not dampen my spirit at all , my arms where raised as I belted out a large WAHOOOOOO !!!
I could see why the steelhead took this offering , very sexy when wet . Look at the swords in the wing and the POP of the veiling !!
It was a fun , relaxing day , I just wanted to share
Mike