There's Just No Way To Know Until You Go.

 With rain predicted for this evening I decided to get to the river on time and give the Dorotheas my best shot. Took a longish walk to a place that looked from the road to be free of fishermen. Apparently other fishermen were taking long walks from different directions because heads started popping out of the bushes everywhere. Last count showed four fishermen in the 200 feet I wanted to fish and another half way between me and them. Did a 180 and headed back towards the car. At the head of a riff were a couple fish quietly feeding, stopped to watch and discovered several more all taking nymphs subsurface in what was shallow water.

Fished for an hour, rose seven fish, with three of them eating my fly. When things quieted down I continued my journey back towards the car. Stopped where I fished a couple days ago, saw a couple risers and gave them a try, both fish took a look but refused to eat. Tried what probably was one of the fish I caught Friday, he was in the same lie sipping sulfur duns just like the last time. Ate at least 20 sulfurs without even acknowledging any one of the half dozen flies I floated over him. Did catch two more nice fish working my way up the run to the car. 

Yesterdays catch was comprised of a 10 inch yearling rainbow, two 11 inch hatchery browns that were probably part of the Oquaga stocking, and two 14 inch rainbows. Today's five fish were all between 17 and 19 inches. Same hatch, same fisherman, same half mile of river.

With summer upon us, the fishing reports become easier to write. The Dortheas have arrived in the Deposit area and will provide most of the daytime fishing for the next six weeks. Depending on water temps, (they like about 52 degrees), the hatch starts anywhere from 11:30 to 1:30 and will usually run at least two hours. The Invarias are bidding us adieu, if you want to say good bye, get up to the Red Barn or Stilesville in the next few days. Judging by the cars in the two lots and the anglers lined up in the water it's still a happening. On sunny days, driftboaters would be well advised to go no further downstream than Barking Dog, without suntan lotion and a good book to read.

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