June 29, 2020
Flows: 263 cfs.
Water Temp: 56F @ 9a – 58F @ 4p.
Water clarity: Gin clear.
Air Temp: 56 @ 9a – low 70s @ 4p.
Hatches: BWO at 7:30a to 11a, Caddis 2p-4p, PMD 2:30p-4p
A view along the canyon road.
Brian and I planned to meet at The Bridge in 11 Mile Canyon on Monday. I picked the spot – mostly because it’s a very short walk from the car to the fishing hole and my big toe is still bothering me. So I was looking forward to some leisurely – easy fishing. Hmm….
Well then – when I arrived I took that short walk to the river and found it completely covered with fishermen. And none of them were named Brian! So I thought maybe he was down stream a bit. But he wasn’t there. Then I thought maybe he went to the Upper Bridge Hole – nope, not there either. Long story short – I ended up walking over a mile and finally found him in the Road Hole.
The Upper Road Hole.
Meanwhile, when I was gearing up at the parking lot – and as I searched for Brian - there were swarms of BWOs hatching all over the place. All the while I’m thinking – I got to get into the water! When I caught up with Brian, he said it had been going on since he arrived at 7:30a.
Rigging up, you’d have thought I would tie on some BWOs – but I didn’t. I went with midges. Go figure! My thinking was that it was still early in the day so give them a try. I think it’s just an old habit - midges in the early morning (is 9a really early morning?) – mayflies in the late morning, early afternoon. Brian had Pheasant Tails tied on – so he was more in tune with what was happening riverside.
But we were both having a lot of success. I was catching fish with a #10 Variegated Pat’s Rubber Leg, a #22 Black Top Secret style midge, and a #22 Top Secret. With the Top Secret being the hot one. The Black Top Secret style midge that I was using looks like a black zebra midge with some flourofiber tied on. This was the first time I’ve used it - and it worked. All the while Brian was catching them regularly on his #20 Pheasant Tail.
This brownie took the Back Top Secret style midge.
After we both had a handful of fish in the net – it became increasingly hard to net the fish. We were hooking them up – but getting them into the net became difficult for some reason! I think it got into my head. I had fish right in front of the net – but they broke off. So thinking the there was too much tension – I loosened up the drag. Then the fish would take me into the fast water and hopelessly down stream – then break off. I must have had 10 fish in a row hooked up and lost them. Talk about losing confidence in what you’re doing.
But as we were getting ready to break for lunch, I spotted a couple of nice rainbows feeding near the rivers edge. So I decided to go after them – and in quick succession I ended up with 2 very nice rainbows in the net. Whew! What a relief and a good way to end the morning!
Last one of the morning for me.
Photo by Brian Kenney.
After lunch we decided to try the Beaver Run - the one that is a short walk from the car. And it didn’t disappoint. We netted rainbows and brownies all along the run. The Black Top Secret was still producing. But it got torn up a bit and I changed it and the Top Secret out for a #20 Pheasant Tail and a #20 Barr Emerger. Both of them worked as I was able to net a few fish on them in the late afternoon.
A beautiful 19" male rainbow caught along the Beaver Run.
One of the brownies had a pronounced "humpback". It was about 15 inches but weighed much more than a normal 15 incher. And if fought like crazy - I thought I had a 20" fish on. Thinking about it - I read in one of Pat Dorsey's books that these humpback brownies escape from the reservoir and end up in the river below.
Brian with a nice female rainbow. The last one of the day and caught in the same hole along the Beaver Run.
I had one particular brownie hooked up and he was giving me all I could handle. After what I experienced in the morning - I was bound and determined to not lose this fish. He took me a good 1/8 of a mile downstream where I finally netted him. Then as I turned to head to the bank to release him – I promptly tripped over a large boulder and fell face first into the river! I didn’t go entirely under, but a lot of water gushed into my waders. It was pretty embarrassing - and chilling. But I didn’t lose the fish!
Thinking about the morning and having 10 fish break off in a row – I mentioned to Brian that I think it's just that particular stretch of river. The way the water is flowing and such – it’s just a very difficult place to net the fish.
He agreed!
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