It was a tale of two waters, one that was suffering from a lack of fish with 54 degree water, the other was suffering from a lack of fish and 54 degree water; an oddity that isn't lost for contemplation and irony. The SR was highlighted with friends and it'll never cease to amaze me how fishing with 2 buddies triples your chances and triples your hope. I walked out of the DSR  at 8 am Monday  after hooking up second cast of the morning, then getting crossed 3 times and  quickly surrounded by the sporty guys who fish about 5 days a year. Knowing that there was bad tides, flooding and debris left over from Joaquin, wrong wind direction and bright sun, alongside pitiful reports when there was good conditions; we packed up and headed for the coast . It didn't hurt I got to fish the beach we we're married on  for  our anniversary and we ate a phenomenal clam and scallop dinner at the same picnic table we had for our wedding reception. It was a great time. I could try to analyze and speculate on the why of the weakness of the run of salmon and the migration of stripers, but I'll keep my opinions to myself. Besides my knowledge is extremely lopsided, the coast having gathered much more of my attention span.
For my taste, is was great to hang out with some good people, but the run was the worst I've experienced in many ways. I did find some shortcuts into some great steel seams off the extremely beaten path, so for that I'm grateful. I regret nothing of the trip, with the exception of talking to Jack's daughter and getting the news of why he wasn't going to show. I'm looking forward to some steel, but that is yet to be seen....  Some pics for those that know me.

and...

then...

also...

finally....

Great

Glad you had fun.
I knew as soon as I saw the campsite it had to be you but for some reason I got VT plates stuck in my head and being the shy introvert type I didn't meet up with you guys.
As it worked out I wouldn't have fished with you since I have to be pretty certain a heavy run of very large steelhead are present before I can justify spending DSR kind of money.

The majority of my fishing was non-DSR, and it was the first time I fished there in 3 years; however, it turned out to be a good decision to fish there Thursday, not so much Monday.  Next time it'll be some free  walks into steel seams.  Shoulda stopped by, good therapy for introverts to accost strangers by accusing them of being from Vermont.  I'm a border guy- buy 2 licenses as the wilderness brookie and rainbow stillwater is great in Vt.  I use to live there and half my work is there. Easy mistake, especially since I blather about Orvis on occasion.  DSR wasn't all that much, considering it was vacation and I'm camping and bringing most of our food along.  Tell the truth, it was good to have HT meet Ugly and fish together. I've enjoyed having them as fishing buddies on other waters and was glad for them to meet. A 4th wheel might've put the bus off the cliff, instead of just breaking down in the slow, DSR, lane.

If you walked out at 8 AM due to the behavior of other "anglers" I hope you at least asked for your money back.
 
Sorry to hear the catching was so poor, but it looks like you had good fishing, great environs, and you have an eye that compliments a camera lens beautifully.

Great read Charlie. Today and now I'm back on a whit sheeted bed being poked and prodded again .
Thanks for at least making some positive healing