It's Hard to Do Something New At 82.

 

Arrived back at the Lordville Estate about 12:30pm today. Put stuff away, ate lunch and mowed the lawn, parts of which are brown and haven't grown in six weeks while other parts, shaded by trees and houses, continued to grow. When I finished the mowing, I sat down and tied some very small olives including two 26's, the smallest flies I've ever tied.

 Headed out to fish a little after three and with the water still relatively low, went back up to Deposit. There were tiny little olives but the fish seemed reluctant to rise in the bright sun. Had one big cloud block the sun and at least a dozen fish started to rise, as soon as the sun came out again everything quieted down. Departed at 5:00 with no clouds anywhere near the sun.

Drove down river knowing I could wade the lower river pools at 500cfs. Found one that wasn't occupied and had fish to throw at in a good olive hatch until dark. The run I fished has big boulders that slow the current in some places while speeding it up in others. Even at 500cfs it is deep, and long casts were needed to reach the rising fish. Putting the fly in front of a fish without drag was a challenge. Got a half dozen fish to come up and refuse the fly, hooked two and landed one. 

On the way back to the car, I saw a pod of fish gulping midges, tied on one of my size 26 olives and hooked a nice fish. Waded back to shore and worked what turned out to be a 17 inch rainbow into the soft water where I was able to net it. It was the first fish I've ever caught on a size 26 fly and one I'm sure to remember.

Met my GHOF at the Crossroad Tavern for a burger while we recounted the days fishing adventures. 

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