04-13-2015, 05:03 AM
After my 3rd trip, I finally got some fish on the bank. The A runs a Stanley did not treat me well, so I loaded up the truck with Triscuts, cookies, and Pizza and headed for Grangeville. Got there after dark so I parked at a hole I knew usually holds fish this time of year and climbed into the back of my truck to sleep. I thought I'd left some night crawlers out in the warm too long from the smell, so I checked my container, but they were all happy as could be. I worried that maybe the camper upwind of me might have some inhabitants that had left their gas on last week or something, but it turned out there was just a ripe roadkill over the berm from me.
Just as my alarm clock started going off in the morning, I heard the pitter patter of rain start. It didn't let up all day, and even turned into big hail that was really painful. I was glad I had several layers of rain gear with me. When I climbed out there were elk on the hillside across from me and a jake turkey hanging out in front of my camp.
When I got down to the water, sure enough I could see a few steelies redded up. No matter what I floated past their face, no snappers, so I tried a run out deeper in the river, but to no avail. I loaded up and headed upriver to a hole I had been successful in late in the season last year.i could see fish there too, and some were in casting range. I finally got a peach corkie and yarn under her nose, and I thought I saw her mouth open, so I lifted up. Sure enough, it was in her mouth, and I landed her. I don't know if she actually bit it or if she just breathed it in , but it was a fair hook up. She was pretty spent and didn't put up much of a fight, but at least I'd got the skunk off.
I fished the hole thoroughly but got nothing else, so I headed even further upriver... And hit the mother load. I saw a few people sightfishing at a turnout. I figured I'd walk around the bend where the river wasn't easy to see from the road. I found a faster run, but there were dark torpedo shapes under the water everywhere. I whipped out my fly rod and tied on some small egg patterns.
Over the course of the next 2 or 3 hours I hooked 6 fish (more if you count several foul hookups) and landed 2 more fairly hooked fish, all with adipose fins. One was my personal best- a 35 inch hen. These fish were pretty fresh acting, taking to the air and really putting up a fight. I was about to hang it up when I foul-hooked a beast. It was hooked in the tail section, and took off dead downstream like a freight train. I should have just clamped down and let it pop my leader, but I had delusions of getting in where I could see how big it was. It got into my backing, which I had never tested before, and POP... He fish was gone, and I was done. It was a great day, but I felt bad about the line being stuck on the fish. I doubt I'll ever get into a mess of fish like that again. It was really amazing how many fish were there.
I loaded up and drove the 4 hours home. I left Grangeville just at dark, and through two white-outs, but made it home in one piece by 2 AM. Great trip!
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Just as my alarm clock started going off in the morning, I heard the pitter patter of rain start. It didn't let up all day, and even turned into big hail that was really painful. I was glad I had several layers of rain gear with me. When I climbed out there were elk on the hillside across from me and a jake turkey hanging out in front of my camp.
When I got down to the water, sure enough I could see a few steelies redded up. No matter what I floated past their face, no snappers, so I tried a run out deeper in the river, but to no avail. I loaded up and headed upriver to a hole I had been successful in late in the season last year.i could see fish there too, and some were in casting range. I finally got a peach corkie and yarn under her nose, and I thought I saw her mouth open, so I lifted up. Sure enough, it was in her mouth, and I landed her. I don't know if she actually bit it or if she just breathed it in , but it was a fair hook up. She was pretty spent and didn't put up much of a fight, but at least I'd got the skunk off.
I fished the hole thoroughly but got nothing else, so I headed even further upriver... And hit the mother load. I saw a few people sightfishing at a turnout. I figured I'd walk around the bend where the river wasn't easy to see from the road. I found a faster run, but there were dark torpedo shapes under the water everywhere. I whipped out my fly rod and tied on some small egg patterns.
Over the course of the next 2 or 3 hours I hooked 6 fish (more if you count several foul hookups) and landed 2 more fairly hooked fish, all with adipose fins. One was my personal best- a 35 inch hen. These fish were pretty fresh acting, taking to the air and really putting up a fight. I was about to hang it up when I foul-hooked a beast. It was hooked in the tail section, and took off dead downstream like a freight train. I should have just clamped down and let it pop my leader, but I had delusions of getting in where I could see how big it was. It got into my backing, which I had never tested before, and POP... He fish was gone, and I was done. It was a great day, but I felt bad about the line being stuck on the fish. I doubt I'll ever get into a mess of fish like that again. It was really amazing how many fish were there.
I loaded up and drove the 4 hours home. I left Grangeville just at dark, and through two white-outs, but made it home in one piece by 2 AM. Great trip!
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