Back from Western Washington

[Ron Eagle Elk]

Took a two week vacation to western Washington to see friends and get in just a hint of fishing. After an exasperating time trying to get a non-resident license for two days, I finally succeeded. I picked up a nice little Echo Lift rod in four weight to pair with my Echo Base reel and 175 Grain OPST Commando Smooth or my Hardy Ultralight 4000 and RIO Gold line.

I decided to try the Washington version of the Deschutes River. If any of you remember Olympia Beer from back in the day, and their "It's the water" jingle, well, the Deschutes is the water. The river runs right past the brewery. Many of the honey holes I knew from before had changed, gravel bars were holes, deep holes were now shallow riffles. I managed to find a nice stretch of river for day one of my two days of fishing. It was cool and overcast so the trusty BWOs were about in great number. A size 14 olive wet fly was my choice and I was rewarded with fish number one, a Coastal Cutthroat of about 2 inches. The fly was almost bigger than him. After a safe release I noticed a nose poke up between two submerged logs. A cast above and dead drift was rewarded with a heavier fish on the line. Another Coastal Cutty of about 10 inches. The fish were hiding beside and between sunken logs all along the river. I lost a few flies to logs, but I had a plentiful supply. After 30 minutes of fishing I had one dink and four respectable fish between ten and fifteen inches. I was about to make another cast when two labs came splashing through the hole I was fishing. After attempting to cast and having the dogs owners throw a stick into the water for his dogs, I quit for the day.

Day 2 found me on the banks of the Nisqually River, near the mouth of the river. A short walk from the parking lot and I saw elbow to elbow fishermen trying to catch a king salmon. I went further upstream. I was after the Sea Run version of the Coastal Cutthroat. I found a stretch of river that wasn't too crowded and got to fishing. Weather conditions were about the same and the BWOs were present again, but if the trout were here, they were after salmon eggs and making their own upstream run to spawn. Third cast and I was into a fish or a log, a log that moved upstream. It had to be a king. As soon as the other fishermen saw my rod bent they came rushing over, not to help land the fish, but to fish right beside me. Guys were bumping into me to stand in my spot.
Knowing my four weight wasn't up to the task, I broke the fish off. I called it a day.

After a big family bash on Saturday I headed back to Maine, bringing fond memories of family and fishing...and Covid 19. I do have pictures on my phone and will post them up as soon as I can get my phone to work.

[DUBBN]

Excellent report, Ron. I do wish you would have found more solitude.

I am looking forward to seeing photos.

[Roadkill]

Ron,

Glad you had some nice fishing out West again!

I will be trying some fishing on the OR Deschutes near Redmond next week.

Bill