My truck is 80 miles from home needing a new front hub..... decided to have its bearings go bad  passing through Rome at 5 in the morning . When in Rome....  Limped it to the river and fished.  So much for spur of the moment decisions. Fished in Altmar and didn't find fish in usual lies, but fish  in resting spots in fast water. I found a hydraulic behind a ledge in some whitewater and hooked three chrome from it. on black buggers.  One ran at me and wrapped the flyline around a rock and snapped off, one jumped off, and one snapped off after I over pressured it after a number of runs and jumps and I got impatient.  As I was the only fisher on my side of the  river , some guys moved in after the hook-ups and started pounding the small area. I don't blame them, as things were pretty slow. I only saw a few hook-ups, but one good  bright fish landed . Moved on  and found even fewer players, but eventually found more  and got one to the bank . It slammed an  Oregon cheese sucker spawn and as it catapulted in the air I knew it was a good solid hook-up and I had a shot at landing it. Sometimes, I don't mind small fish. Oh well, I never claimed to be a good fisherman.  It made  at least 10 good jumps and some decent runs, belying its small stature. It  made the trip, no matter the outcome.  If I can get the transportation situation straightened out, I'll be back next week.  Maybe the river will fill in more upriver, maybe I'll fish downriver- I didn't want to go any farther than Altmar this trip.  1 for 4 ,  is  pretty well near skunked, but I don't regret going, though it's going to be very costly in many ways. I had 2 jobs to finish this week that are now up  in the air. At least I have a piece of chrome, up in the air in mind's eye ,to distract me.

now that is what its all about....
no matter the inconveinece of the trip...
the truck troubles....
not many fish or loads of hook ups...
but the escence of it all, and why we do what we do....
that one memory of that one moment that made it all :)
 

nearly a skunk.
sounds like channel #5 from where i'm typing.

   Sorry to hear that about the truck. I've been going through a bad spell hopefully my trip this week turns things around that or my luck I'll drown.
 

Dang Charlie. That blows big time.
I'll do my best to get you back on the water. I'm the only skunk in town.
It was paradise this morning, on water at 8am , 1-7 by 10am when 1x tippet went empty and ran outta blue flies. Ain't nobody down there and darn sure no fish either
Ugh !!!

UF, hopefully your week gets better. I just borrowed a friend's spare farm truck and made arrangements for mine to be repaired in Herkimer. A small fortune, but you do what you have to. All in all, I thank God our  daughter lives in Albany and came to get us and bring us home last night. My daughter and her fiance actually had lots of good news and even got us laughing on the way home.  I also hired a guy for a few days to make sure I get what I need to done  for my customers. The light at the end of the tunnel is to be back out chasing steel next week. Looks much better at the moment.  Hope you do well on the river. More fish down than up. Faster water  is producing better as far as I could tell. I saw  fish holding  and feeding  in pretty heavy water, and that's where I found players.   Some of my favorite seams that will be productive in a few weeks, seemed to not be holding fish. Too warm yet.  Have a great time and I hope it erases the bad spell entirely. I'm shaking the crap that happened to me off pretty easily, having got to go. I was feeling kinda down, even before I went-it's why I went- I ain't no more.
I just got a good live report from HT.  I wish I was on the river again today with him, but, I can look forward to next week!    Next best thing to being there, is a some good fish stories from  a friend.  Hope he gets a bunch more.   Back to work.


 
Charlie

Yea,Charlie sorry about the truck.   If you are ever close give me a call if you get in trouble.  I happen to know a guy who is better  with a wrench than a fly rod.   You would have missed a day of fishing , but we could have got it done.  What kind of truck and where did you take it to get done if I could ask.  If it was a Chevy, I have done about 50 of those over the years.  I will PM you my home phone, I do not get cell service and never have that on any way.   At least you got 1 to the shore, much better than I did.  

Charlie sorry to hear about the truck, couldnt have been a chevy they never leave ya stranded. Ill just say the fish made me feel like a rookie on sunday, I went 1 for 8 on the chrome never saw a salmon all day. Had hookups on black,purple and rootbeer buggers, white eztaz and three came on the same egg colar as the one in the picture below. Had one hit and turn only to find the line wraped around the reel, had two hit so hard my 8 pound just snapped, had one hit and played for 3 or so minutes before I reel in a pigtail, one hit and jumped instantly popped off, one ran up 20 yards and went back by me 100 miles an hour and gone and one hit do three cartwheels toward me then down and gone. I fished the same spot from 730 till 130 wouldnt even go to the bank for coffee, vultures were all around if you left your spot they eithor walked down thru the middle or jumped it all together. I think the water is at a perfect temp, I thought the fish were aggressive and strong and I saw quite a few move by me steadly all day.

3 fan, my Chevy does. I've had them all my life. It's the owner, not the truck. This one has had a HARD life as a work and plow truck and has racked up the miles. Motor and trans are still great, front end , brakes, suspension, not so much.  Clint, I did the driver side about a year ago. You can change them in your sleep, I bet. Thank you for the offer. I'd rather fish with you, though mechanics  is fun if you're not under the gun.  
    John, that's a nice pic. I've not tried that shade of pink. If I see some, I'll pick some up and add them to the selection.  Glad you got some maniacs on. I think Lucky mentioned this temp brings out the best in them.  I agree.  The ones I hooked made some spectacular jumps. I'm kinda glad we're in a warm spell and it's not going to cool off before I make it back. It's some challenge getting them on the bank.  They're incredible fish in their prime.
 
Charlie
 

When you said front hub I knew it was a Chevy.   Our 2500 has gone through  3 on1 side and 2 on the other, it has a plow too. They are expensive due to the ABS sensor being part of the hub.   Use a quality Timkin bearing for best results.
 
  The fish I hooked into Sunday showed some acrobatics  too.