Drove up through the
gates to the trailhead of a semi-secret lake here on the Westside. Weather
was perfect and the hike was a good easy one to start getting me back into shape
for the season. The beavers have definitely been busy making more swamp,
and the river was August-easy to cross. I put in at the first camp spot
after tethering the dog to a bush that kept him within cover and water
distance. Lots of BIG mayflies coming off. Saw calibaetis to size
12, and some larger brown 2-tailed mayflies that I couldn't identify (almost
seemed like small Hex's, but wrong color). No wind, so the rises were slow
and methodical by the larger fish, and loud and splashy by the smaller
ones.
I went ahead and
paddled out to the main part of the lake, and discovered I probably should have
hike up to the second camp spot - less paddling, and that's where most of the
fish were anyway. Man it's been a while since I've been in a tube -
casting is definitely more challenging that much closer to the water. I
started off by dragging a soft-hackle pheasant tail and a BH FB GRHE around and
began picking up 9-11" fish right away. I switched over to
an Irresistible Adams and a black/white BH chironomid dropper. Fish
were coming to both.
After an hour or so,
it seemed my butt was colder than it should have been (even for a float tube),
so I paddled back to the dog and dry clothes to discover that I had indeed
sprung a leak in the waders. Funny how those breathables will get a crease
in the seam of the leg, and then that crease gets a little rub abrasion, and
poof - instant hole.
Nicest fish was a
coastal cutt a hair over 14" in his late spawning colors. Bright slash,
dark body, big spots. Fish are healthy and great fighters. I'd
planned on taking my 4wt pack rod when I was getting ready this morning, but
decided on the 2pc 2wt. Good choice, as the metal rod tube worked well as
a wading staff while trying to navigate the swamp on the way in, as well as
across the slippery rocks in the river. Plus those smaller fish were quite
sporting on the little 2wt noodle.
Happy Memorial Day,
folks.
Sean
