Got off work 10 days ago around 3 30 and made the 8 hour pilgrimage home. Arrived at a campsite about 1 30 in the morning. Waking up to sun despite the forcast of rain was a great start. And starting off a pike trip with some trout fishing was a good confidence booster. Was joined by an old friend Saturday and got right to it.The forcasted bug hatch was very far off and for the first time in my life I successfully fished the San Juan worm. Proceeded to catch a dozen or so cookie cutter 12 to 14 inch browns, bows and Cutts for the next 48 hours. Had a great camp right on the water and saw a fair amount of wildlife in this location. Crowds were very light and confidence was high for the next part of the trip.
Spent Monday visiting with grandparents and planning the rest of the week. The usual river sloughs we fish were inaccessible due to very high water from recent rains
Tuesday was the only day with no plans, so after some phone calls and sweet talking guilt trips, a good friend 80 miles away was talked into skipping work and pursuing the first pike of the trip on an unknown lake to us. We were rewarded with more sun and 2 fish each. Couldn't have been a better day. Except my buddy snapped his work horse 6 wt on a fish. I got the opportunity to sight fish a pike. Once you see the wake on the top water when these fish commit to the fly, you are as hooked as this toothy basted was.
Packed the gear back up and had to high tail it 200 miles to the family cabin we were allowed to use for the next three days. Met up with my two buddies and over drank like men do in the woods together the first night. This was going to be the main event of the trip.
The two brothers had their hearts set on fishing up above the reservoir we were going to target in an old family fishing spot, so we started there on Wednesday. This day was rough and really got the spirits down. They fished gear all day and caught 1 bass each. I threw flies all day and regardless of getting 4 hits, was only able to put one pike on the boat. The water was rising and getting browned up worse by the hour. Saw a couple wolf pups and casted our arms off. Ended this day with large steaks, a lot more beer, and very unsure of what to do the next day.
Decided to push down the river into the reservoir on Thursday. We were rewarded. 10 fish put on the boat, and to all of our suprise... my flies had 70 percent of the hits. The fish were aggressive, hitting flies stripped fast and blowing up the water in ways I'd never seen. The most rewarding day of the trip... sunny weather, and fish. Finished the day with ribs on the BBQ and watching Grumpier old Men on VHS and a 9 inch screen. Very satisfied
Friday was almost as exciting with 8 more fish in the boat. (And one turtle). We were all exhausted and called it early that day. I snapped my new 8 weight and wasn't at all bummed. The warranty will cover and I had a 7 wt to back it up. Wrapped up with pizza and a 150 mile drive back to their home
Woke up Saturday with. A fishing hangover. Shoulder dead, brain dead, and one more day to find fish. Scored a free breakfast and coffee visiting my buddies mom and hopped back in the truck. Headed to the river that was so blown out earlier in the week with hopes of scoring some fish in the sloughs. Got to the first slough and found mud all the way thru. Worked hard for an hour and found one fish there.
Made a phone call and heard that a slough off of a slough downriver had some clear water and decided to head there. Little expectations after seeing the muddy water we just fished. But once again we were rewarded. Found a hole about 90 feet across and 2 feet deep with clear water and pike cruising in and out all afternoon. Picked up 4 more here and headed home for the night.
Woke up Sunday thinking we would work the same spot again. The fish were there but no bites. One big fish, easily the biggest fish we saw all trip followed the fly right to the boat, even following the musky figure 8 at the boat, 4 times! But those fish just wouldn't commit. I had to make the long trip back to Seattle so loaded up at noon, counted my blessings for the trip, fish, and friends, and headed home. 1900 miles in 10 days, two broken rods, countless cases of beer, and so many stories to share. Flies were a success
Thanks for reading! More pike to come in August and September. Hopefully a real big bruiser later this summer
Spent Monday visiting with grandparents and planning the rest of the week. The usual river sloughs we fish were inaccessible due to very high water from recent rains
Tuesday was the only day with no plans, so after some phone calls and sweet talking guilt trips, a good friend 80 miles away was talked into skipping work and pursuing the first pike of the trip on an unknown lake to us. We were rewarded with more sun and 2 fish each. Couldn't have been a better day. Except my buddy snapped his work horse 6 wt on a fish. I got the opportunity to sight fish a pike. Once you see the wake on the top water when these fish commit to the fly, you are as hooked as this toothy basted was.
Packed the gear back up and had to high tail it 200 miles to the family cabin we were allowed to use for the next three days. Met up with my two buddies and over drank like men do in the woods together the first night. This was going to be the main event of the trip.
The two brothers had their hearts set on fishing up above the reservoir we were going to target in an old family fishing spot, so we started there on Wednesday. This day was rough and really got the spirits down. They fished gear all day and caught 1 bass each. I threw flies all day and regardless of getting 4 hits, was only able to put one pike on the boat. The water was rising and getting browned up worse by the hour. Saw a couple wolf pups and casted our arms off. Ended this day with large steaks, a lot more beer, and very unsure of what to do the next day.
Decided to push down the river into the reservoir on Thursday. We were rewarded. 10 fish put on the boat, and to all of our suprise... my flies had 70 percent of the hits. The fish were aggressive, hitting flies stripped fast and blowing up the water in ways I'd never seen. The most rewarding day of the trip... sunny weather, and fish. Finished the day with ribs on the BBQ and watching Grumpier old Men on VHS and a 9 inch screen. Very satisfied
Friday was almost as exciting with 8 more fish in the boat. (And one turtle). We were all exhausted and called it early that day. I snapped my new 8 weight and wasn't at all bummed. The warranty will cover and I had a 7 wt to back it up. Wrapped up with pizza and a 150 mile drive back to their home
Woke up Saturday with. A fishing hangover. Shoulder dead, brain dead, and one more day to find fish. Scored a free breakfast and coffee visiting my buddies mom and hopped back in the truck. Headed to the river that was so blown out earlier in the week with hopes of scoring some fish in the sloughs. Got to the first slough and found mud all the way thru. Worked hard for an hour and found one fish there.
Made a phone call and heard that a slough off of a slough downriver had some clear water and decided to head there. Little expectations after seeing the muddy water we just fished. But once again we were rewarded. Found a hole about 90 feet across and 2 feet deep with clear water and pike cruising in and out all afternoon. Picked up 4 more here and headed home for the night.
Woke up Sunday thinking we would work the same spot again. The fish were there but no bites. One big fish, easily the biggest fish we saw all trip followed the fly right to the boat, even following the musky figure 8 at the boat, 4 times! But those fish just wouldn't commit. I had to make the long trip back to Seattle so loaded up at noon, counted my blessings for the trip, fish, and friends, and headed home. 1900 miles in 10 days, two broken rods, countless cases of beer, and so many stories to share. Flies were a success
Thanks for reading! More pike to come in August and September. Hopefully a real big bruiser later this summer