Have you ever had one of those days where you know the odds are stacked against you? Well, today seemed to be one of those days. We have been hoping and praying for rain lately and have done just about everything but a rain dance to bring it in. However, we have yet to get what our streams need. As many of you know and others can imagine, the streams are low and clear and extremely pressured due to the high number of early season anglers.
If all that is taken into account, a considerate guide will think of his clients first. At times this may leave him wondering if they are wasting the clients money....let's be honest here folks. Today was one of those days.....at least in my mind. I knew the conditions were going to be tough and so did my fellow guides. The facts were in plain view.....low water, clear water, pressured fish, lots of anglers, and the need to put fish in the net.
I don't know how else to say this, but sometimes you just have to suck it up and live up to what you say you are. Today I was a guide. Today I was working for someone who wanted to catch one of America's favorite game fish. I could have backed off and said conditions will be better tomorrow, but aren't they always. Today was a beautiful day, and I had to get the job done, because that is what we do! At SAO, we put clients on fish and do everything possible (ethically that is) to put fish in the net.
You might think, you sure are a cocky, prideful, arrogant guide.....and if that is how this has come across, let me explain the emotion behind my writing.
Yesterday I wondered about today. I wondered and wondered.....and I pondered all of the challenges. After sizing everything up realized I was up to that challenge! Today, I went out and gave it my all knowing that I had what it takes! I now sit here in all the glory that any angler can understand and that is that we went out today and kicked butt! It feels really good, guide or not, to have a day like today....and quite frankly, I am JAZZED about it! If I feel this good about the day, then you can imagine how my clients feel!
A BEAUTIFUL DAY TO BE ON THE WATER
WAYNE AND SUE SMILE WITH THE SKUNK FISH....THAT IS THE
ONE THAT GOT THE SKUNK OUT OF THE BAG FOR THE DAY!
Everyone knows what it is like to finally get on the boards for the day. It was a slow start for Wayne and Sue, but in time, we found that skunk and got it out of the bag. It could only get better from then on right? Well, today it did!
WAYNE POSES WITH A LOOK OF CONTENTMENT....
THAT IS THE BEST PART OF THE DAY!
After some walking and looking, we got into some nice pods of fish that had little pressure and it was off the hook....or on the hook, depending on how you look at it. Honestly, I think we had a bit of both, but that keeps the game very interesting.
THE FISH KEPT COMING....SOME WENT, WITH
FLIES IN THEIR MOUTHS, BUT THIS ONE CAME TO THE NET!
ANOTHER ONE FOR THE TALLY
WAYNE POSES WITH ONE LAST FISH FOR THE DAY
While I was with my clients, John Miller was out with clients as well and their day mirrored mine. It was slow going, but before long, with a bit of persistence and application of what we knew, John was getting the net wet for Paul.
PAUL POSES WITH A NICE HEN FOR THE DAY
The condition currently are very tough. The water as I stated before is very low and clear. Hopefully the rain forecasted for tonight and tomorrow will bring enough to get us a push of water.
The flies that produced today were broad in size and color, but some of the producers were Senyo's wiggle stone, Senyo's ice man minnow and small wooly buggers. I was also happy to test a new low water pattern today that received rave review from the fish......more on this as the season progresses and the pattern gets more exposure.
Keep your eyes on the streams and these reports. We are out with clients nearly every day from here on, so check back often to see the latest from our guides.
Until next time,
Patrick "Flybum" Robinson
Head Guide
Steelhead Alley Outfitters
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