Friday, fished the UFZ and found it slow, slow, slow. So did everyone else. I found two spots that have produced in the past that no one seems to fish. One is a pocket behind a large branch across the water, 2 feet off the bank, that people insist on fishing from 80 feet away. I got yelled at for just stopping to look in front of 2 guys with Spey rods across the river. I explained I had no interest in their water, just 5 or so casts to the near bank. They quieted down and I caught one second cast. I moved on and thanked them for allowing me the space and time to play the fish. The other spot is some rugged wading to a ledge that looks like it's very deep, but actually is a flat slab next to a big hydraulic. You cast into the falls, stack mend and pay attention not to step over the edge. It payed off. That fish dove under a big oak that's in the water, but being out on the edge, I plunged the rod 6 feet under and somehow it cleared. It went into the backing 3 times, and made some great jumps. So, fish of the trip for me. All the usual spots produced nothing. I met a lot of disheartened first timers this trip, complaining about crowds and not being able to find more than 1 fish or none. Reports lead you to believe it's easy as pie, and all you need to do is show up. Sometimes. Tuna had that turned-on Thursday, though he's paid his dues and skill acquiring in spades. He started off outfitted in rubber waders and electrical tape, these guys, NO. I went down to the LFZ and stopped to chat with folks as it was wall to wall. I spoke for a long while with a couple of retired guys from North Carolina, as I've fished in the south quite a bit. I guess talking smallmouth fishing bought me a pass and they let me in to rotate on their prime seam. I got 3 in short order. At this point we called it a day and
went and got dinner early and relaxed in camp. Sat. morning we had plans to fish some braids, and hoped to fish with Clint. I knew his sister might need him, so it was up in the air. We made tentative plans and left it at that. We were just about to drive out at barely first light, when a fellow approached us and asked for a jump. I had no cables, he had none, so off I went to roust Stoney. He got me some after some getting dressed and such and I got the guys going . Of course it was their first steel trip and they needed lots of info. At this point in the delayed game, I just dropped over the bank behind our campsite and found my favorite bathtub spot in fast water with a boat and clients on it. I patiently waited them out, trying not to low hole them and they eventually moved on. I stepped in and immediately banked 3 good fish. That was it for me, I was ecstatic, as they took a pumpkin caddis emerger that was in my box (was even barbless) because I was seeing lots of them in the bushes and over the water. It's what worked for me up river, too. Little yellow eggs worked in the LFZ. Thinking out of the box paid off. I had spoken with 2 nice Russian fellows (non-snaggers!) and they told me they had never caught a steelhead, so I put them in my spot and moved down. Tragedy struck. I knocked my glasses in the water and was now blind for all intents and purposes. Two fellows on the bank that were teaching a girlfriend to Spey cast asked me what was wrong, and immediately got in and started searching with their Costa Del Sol's. I just stayed where I was to establish a line and well, because I couldn't see ****. Amazingly one guy plunged his arm in up to the shoulder and came up with them. Do you think I got paid back for the jump start? Instant Karma. They would take nothing, but I came away with restored sight and faith. I left at that point, and getting back into cell reception, went and found Clint. We spent a few not very productive hours, but had a good time anyway. The river is getting a major reputation and is becoming more and more a travel destination. I've seen it with everything from giant cutthroat trout in a big lake in Nevada, to stripers on Cape Cod, to false albacore on the Outer Banks, word spreads like fire on the net and the crowds appear. I guess we'll deal with it. For me, down river is going to get more familiar. Less fish, harder to find productive water, longer walks. Numbers are good, good times even better. As I've said, I don't blame people. I heard steelhead described as addicitve, over and over. I'm jonesing and I just went....
Sorry for the duplicate pic- Photobucket is getting to be ridiculous. Might be the last pics from me.