Tuesday, July 13, 1999

 Quick Report: Sulphurs are providing some good action during the day on the Upper West Branch, while spinners and small blue-wing olives are offering some great opportunities just before dark on the Main Stem. Water temperatures are at 48 to 52 degrees upriver, and rise to 60 to 65 degrees near the confluence of the East and West Branches.

 Dear Flyfisher:

We fished all day yesterday and scored on sulphurs during the day-light hours, and then followed up with an evening float on the Main Stem, where we caught and released some big rainbows that rose to blue-wing olives and sulphur spinners.

The water on both rivers was crystal clear, which required us to fish long leaders and super-fine tippet (7x). But, the combination paid off with hungry trout that rose readily to our flies if the presentation and drift were just right.

We’ve seen some fair hatches and spinner falls of tricos on both the West Branch and Main Stem, although they are yet to come on strong. I have several clients who have already reserved floats for the trico hatch, which can be the most exciting hatch of the year, with big fish rising to No. 24 to 26 flies.

This week the tricos should be coming off in numbers sufficient to bring the trout up in pursuit. The flies are so small, that the trout literally sip hundreds of flies during a single feeding, which gives you plenty of opportunities. Trico fishing generally occurs in the morning, between 6:30 and 10 a.m. It’s the time for both emerging flies and spinner falls.

The rivers are in good shape, with some drenching rainstorms over the past week keeping the reservoirs at good levels for this time of year. The West Branch has been flowing at about 400 to 500 cfs throughout the week, while the Main Stem’s flow has varied from just over 1,000 cfs to a low of about 700.

Water temperatures have also remained cool, aided by both the steady releases from the tailwater reservoirs and cool, summer evenings. Throughout the West Branch and upper Main Stem, temperatures have ranged from the high 40s into the low 60s – perfect temperatures for trout.

If you think summer weather makes for fishing conditions that are too difficult to bother with, think again. This week, I fished with Christina Ketchuck, a first-time flyfisher who had never cast a fly before. Within a couple of hours, Christina had landed two nice wild browns, broke off another and missed several more. And, while the fish were selective, the old combo still pays off – right fly, right time, right presentation and hang on.

I still have some dates open, so drop me an e-mail or give me a call and we’ll set up an outing. And, don’t forget the Salmon River and the late August, early September run of King Salmon. I already have 25 days filled for that fishery, but there’s still a few openings left. If you’ve never tied into a big salmon, this is a main chance on one of the best salmon rivers in the world. So, come on board.

– Adrian