Maybe tomorrow - - -

There is no other way to put it.  Today was not a nice day to be on the river.  To begin with there was a brutal north wind that blew a gusty 15 to 25mph.  There was also high pressure with bright sunshine that appears the first day of a new frontal system  AND TROUT DO NOT LIKE IT. They just won't rise.

Were there bugs? Yep.  The water started off in some sections below 40 degrees but with the bright sun all sections of the river system hit at least 48 and most topped 50.  The paraleps were first to hatch with some on the water around 1:00.  The late rising Hendricksons took their time, most not putting their toes in the water until almost 4:00. The apple caddis also made an appearance, at least on the BR.

The fishermen?  There were an average number of boats on the BR and quite a few floating from barking dog down the WB. The BE had only a few boats and I hope the sports tipped their guides well 'cause they rowed into a headwind all day.

Fishing in the wind. -  It's part of the game.  Either stay home or suck it up and learn how to fish in it. The wind ALWAYS blows Hendrickson time.  Why? It has to do with warm air masses clashing with cold air masses.  It also has to do with thermals created by the sun warming the ground.  The winds will lessen when the temperatures between air masses become less extreme and when the leaves come out and block the suns rays from hitting as much surface area.

How do you fish in the wind? First of all there are advantages to fishing in the wind. The fish can't see out of the water as well so you can get closer to them.  Your wading wake is masked by the wind, and slapping down a bad cast is less likely to spook a fish. So, you can get closer and make poorer casts without spooking the fish.  To take advantage of these plusses you need to eliminate the minuses. Don't even try to cast a fly into the wind. Stand and fish with the wind at your back.  With the wind at your back consider the direction you are facing to be 12:00 on a clock.  The best direction to cast is 12:00 o'clock (with the wind) the closer you to try to cast towards 3:00 on the right or 9:00 on the left the more the wind negatively impacts your cast. Fish from the side of the river that lets the wind carry the line away from your casting arm. Forget about making long casts, reel in all that extra line and make good short casts to fish that can't see or hear you. 

 Lastly, hope like hell that the wind lays down tomorrow 'cause if it does, the fishing just might well be epic - you heard it first here.  

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