I fished alone early Saturday afternoon, and had a lot of fun swinging soft hackle flies. The first couple trout of the day were caught on soft hackle flies that Johnno sent me. Thanks Johnno!
I caught this guy at the end of a long riffle pool The fly had just completed the drift and was hanging at the end of the line, being knocked around by the current. As I lifted the rod, there was resistance that felt like a snag, then a firm tug letting me know that a fish had grabbed the fly. He put up a great fight, but I eventually netted him. I was amazed with how healthy and plump this fish was. A nice healthy brown trout.
Here was the next brown I caught. I took this photo as I was pulling him in. Sort of an action shot, but it turned out blurry.
This is another one of Johnno's wingless wet flies. It had a deep burgundy body, black hackle and a gold rib.
The trout liked this pattern too. I landed this guy after just a few drifts.
Same fly, after being chewed on by trout.
I then tyed on one of my wool bodied peacock and orange soft hackle flies.
This guy SMASHED the fly, as it drifted deep along the bank.
Well chewed fly...
Here is one of Charlie's tups soft hackle.
Unfortunately the next trout I hooked kept Charlie's fly. Rats!
In the afternoon, I met up with Tim and we fished until dark. I had worked this stretch for a short time before Tim arrived, but did not catch any fish. The olives and march browns were coming off in good numbers and the fish started feeding actively on the surface. Tim tied on a dry fly and immediately started catching fish.
He handed me an olive emerger pattern and I started hooking fish left and right. While Tim was catching trout, I was catching shiners.
This is a golden shiner. They are a lovely fish. Their foreheads are covered in small spikes, similar to some dace.
TIm hooks another one along the far bank.
The march brown mayflies were coming off in good numbers. Here I was comparing one of Tim's march brown fly patterns, to the real insect on the water. It was amazing to see how close they were, floating along on the surface of the water.
As I look up, Tim catches another trout. The man is amazing to watch...
It turns out that Tim is an excellent cook too. Venison steaks, with sauted onions, eggs over easy & whole wheat toast.
I took a quick peek in his wet fly box when he was distracted.
This is Tim's march brown soft hackle pattern. Such a graceful fly.
This is another isonychia pattern he ties.
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