Still Good Sulfurs Above Oquaga.

 

Only away four days, and a bat took up residence in my absence. Saw droppings on the kitchen floor downstairs, went up stairs and sure enough there were droppings by both windows. Hope he found his way back out.

Was anxious to see if the warm flood water, (almost 3,000cfs) from Oquaga hurt the sulfur hatch. By the time I got down to the Men's Club, I had my answer. At 12:30 in the afternoon there wasn't a single boat or wade angler from the route 17 bridge all the way to the Men's Club. Saw a few sulfurs hatching and an occasional rise but nothing like before the rain.

Was deciding what to do when Troutfitter regular Stuart drove up, he had gone to the red barn to fish but it was too crowded for him. Said there have been enough bugs to get a few fish up where we were but that it has been slow. Both of us chose solitude over the red barn and spent the afternoon trying to convince the few risers that we had something good for them to eat, (it wasn't an easy sell). Did land a hot 19 inch rainbow that I think I have hooked and lost two times before. Also rose two good browns one gave me a last second open mouthed refusal while the other, an 18 incher, ate the very same fly with relish.

Drove back to the fishing camp arriving at 3:30, did a few chores and managed to awaken from my afternoon nap in time to head back up river for the evening fishing. Had given thought to trying the BR which had been under 70 for almost a week but it hit 70 late yesterday afternoon and did again today. Drove up route 8 in Deposit to check out the Stilesville chorus line, and to my surprise there were only five cars parked from Stilesville to the red barn. Was scanning the river for risers when two veteran anglers from the Syracuse Troutfitter contingency stopped to chat. They had been out to the Missouri and had great fishing for the big rainbows. Hadn't seen either of them this year and was glad they stopped. When they drove off, I put on the waders and spent almost two hours casting at fish feeding in a good sulfur hatch. Lost two big ones but landed enough small ones to nicely round out the first day back.


 

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