The River Wins

Fishing has changed the last few weeks and I’ve come to the conclusion the river wins!

July and August are tough months to fish some rivers. Hatches change. I’m spoiled. I enjoy dry fly fishing.

For me, there’s nothing like watching a fly I tied float down the river and seeing a slow rise to my fly and …wait…wait…wait for the fish to take the fly, tighten up, and feel the head shake.

Or the reckless takes to some big mayfly spinners in a little faster water. The fish doesn’t have much time to decide. WHAM!

But that hasn’t happened lately.

The hatches are changing and the fish behavior along with it.

I’ve been sitting along the river bank using my observation skills. Watching for dimples. Watching for flies floating in the film. Watching the birds work high in the sky.

Waiting.

But the rises aren’t there.

The birds working high in the sky tells me a spinner fall is forthcoming. (Read more about Spinners.) Many times, the spinners fall in the evening. So I stay late a few nights to see if that happens.

Not where I am.

How about the late evening caddis hatches?

Nope.

Decided to camp in order to be at the river early in the morning. Sometimes there are spinner falls then.

Nope.

OK, not all is lost. A few weeks ago there wasn’t a spinner fall in the early morning, so I swung a few flies for Bull Trout.

But don’t feel too sorry for me. This proves I’m flexible. I can fish something other than dry flies! I’m taking what the river gives me.

I’ve started fishing nymphs and streamers again. Searching for fish.

And going to different parts of the river to see what is happening.

Some days, it feels like I’m starting over. But what a problem to have!

I’ll figure it out. But for now, the river wins!