Report

Got in Thurs PM--Mostly house and yard Friday but looked at the estuary and Hatchery -nothing. Did see 2 run up the needle very late. Not  fishing just looking around.
 Sat and Sun  fished  lower river-usually do that in mid to late August before the crowds then retire to the upper river but with late fishes went low -WRONG.
Saw about 8 fish running fast in  2 days and saw guys go absolutely nuts chasing ,slashing and being generally rude whenever a fish came by- Then remembered I only went that low before the nuts arrived.
Some very nice fishable waters down there but not when the conga lines start and the madness prevails.
Did meet some nice folks and the weather and waters were great.
They have started but still way more fishermen than fish.

Man the slash , run and chase is upon us trev :( been for a while also. Fichy spears and loin hooks would be way cooler!!! Lol... Trev shoulda hit the middle/upper stretches for sanity bud

Saw a few on stringers- most had 'the fin'.
 Also saw how most with stringers 'fished'.
Guys I spoke to who had been on the Lake had similar reports as those from Rich.
Had one come up and hold in a pocket I was kinda watching so I put a fly over it a couple of times-was the only time my line got wet in 2 days.
 Another 'fisherman' saw me and ran right over and pushed the fish outa the pocket then  ran up after it slashing away from behind.
That's when I left.
Was a time that a few strong words and eager anticipation of whatever followed mighta happened-but ya cant change the tide - they aint worth the effort and am getting too old for it-especially when its the norm rather than the exception.
Never like to be on the River for  weekends and Holidays but this was my only window--might no be able to get back till late Sept.

Clint,
thing is , they don't care and think it's GREAT to post about how many fish they "hooked" on a fly rod with mono and string of cannonballs in 335 flow or whatever it is..
It's sad but true and makes good folks whom enjoy the fishery and fishing look like the fools..
Just do what you enjoy doing and don't be tricked into "when in Rome doing as the Romans do" , sorry TB, it was tongue in cheek

YES Sir indeed, indeed  Now I want to know what time is dinner
Enjoy the day Everyone
1 project down 99 more to go..

Could it be the quiet before the storm???

Might think a decent push is in order pretty soon- hope its advertised accurately not as a HOT, its nuts now kinda story. One push does not make a season or when spread in the river a HOT fishery.
Too often those normal pushes-especially in these  slow years - are made to be far more than they are.
That said, improvement to whatever level it comes to this year is imminent.
Mid Sept is make or break time in the present Lake condition IMHO.
Some Hos should show soon with the Kings.
As most of what I observed last week had the fin it seems kind of normal as we have been seeing the 'naturals' first for a while now-soon we may see the stocked fish start come in more regularly.
 
By the way- Congrats to the folks at DSR and Whitakers-Pathetic reports indicate honest reporting- much appreciated even though it isn't what we are hopping for.

Water temps are awful this late summer, and the fish seem really peckish. I've never had so many darn short strikes!!!!  Glad you got out in the woods, Lucky, that's always a big plus; at least to people that  have their priorities straight. We've no doubt you do.

Agreed on the 'few degrees'.
The river is still very warm and whatever the run may be this year (IMHO) is still holding off for more accommodating temps or until their biological clock says they must go no matter what conditions may exist.
Cold or hot high or low they  will eventually come.
Just hope for a decent showing.
The one thing I have always felt was the true key to 'the run' is estuary reports- they have entered the system and ready to push up sometimes moving through quick and sometimes lingering for a while- but the Estuary seems to be the true indicator..
Those reports are still lacking.

Lucky , it was great to read your adventure . I miss the backwoods . Going to try and plan Frans hole a poke before 10-15 . It's hell on wheels now with fall coming and trip to see Magical Mickey .
Hope you get out before I do again :)

Lucky that was cold rain. I don't think it got above 58/59 on Sunday here... Cold soaking raining Sunday night. I don't think the river has gone above 70 this summer in all honesty. That's a good thing

Well doctor visit went as planned surgery time for the foot. Told her its Not happening till late December or so it's salmon steelhead time and soon enough I'll be icing my foot in some water soon enough.
It's not going to be bad as initially thought. In on a Wednesday cut the ligament stay off of it for 5 days no work for 2 weeks then she said if want I can run a marathon it heals that quickly. Said soon as it is cut the pain will be relieved. I can't wait but no way I'm doing it till year end.

Yeah, HT had more stitches than Frankenstein and more steel in his shoulder than your average Hyundai. We were standing in the middle of a thousand madly dashing  Cohos that absolutely CRUSHED anything pink and red and HT was laughing and darn near crying from the pain of fighting them  at the same time. That memory is filed away in the GOOD STUFF drawer.
No excuses for not winter steelin' now UG.  That's some pretty good news.

HT, remember that you will need a vacation from your vacation when you return from Mouse Land, cones and rods all stimulated, the whole world looks like a post war slum.  No better remedy for Walt withdrawal then some cool green. I just try to finish with the MRP before 3rd week in September because it is the top spot in the 'daks for bear, and it will be crowded this weekend.  I realize that 99.9% of hunters are the most responsible people in the woods, but that other 0.1% worry me with a lightweight dark color canoes left by a pond.
 
One of the high points of all time for me on the SR was walking Fran up to the old Clay from down at the bus where everyone else in his large party had decided all the fish in the river swam up out of the bottom, as once they started there (2Bob's generosity, never happened again after he told 3 guys about a spot and the next AM they showed up with 17), they never moved!.  After that, when my wife and I showed up on our honeymoon at his shop, it was helpful tips galore , and over to Sportsman's for beers after he closed up.  By then he was pretty much limited to spots he could reach with his ATV, no more walks even as short as the half mile on the SR.  But he shortened our Ausable learning curve by beaucoup years, and he was a genuine gentleman on the water.  OK, I need to go get a handkerchief, I really do miss the man....

It was just two old (funny since they were probably younger than we are now) (the Shmit bros) guys dragging a nasty old salmon up the trail to the old parking meadow by the bus.
Nice guys but lesson learned about sharing.