Backcountry,    Fishing Report,    fly fishing small streams

Hope Dies Hard On A Fishing Trip

By Tom Chandler 5/14/2012

No matter how much we stared at them, the snow drifts covering the road refused to melt.

I wasn't really surprised; in this part of the world, the snow level is currently around 5500 feet. But you know, this road and this pass were going to be different. Then we rolled around the corner just past 5400' and the dream of being the first into a small alpine stream died.

Snow drifts mean no fishing this stream...

 

Every time this happens I go through the usual stages; denial, anger, bargaining, depression over the lack of realtime satellite intel and finally, acceptance.

Usually, I don't reach acceptance quickly. For a minute, I knew -- despite the old tires -- the Bronco could blow through the drifts, but even my fevered brain couldn't ignore another set of *deeper* drifts waiting up ahead, and many more after that.

I pointed at the medium-sized streams of water running down the road and said "two weeks" and Older Bro nodded, though we both know it's still just an attempt at grownup behavior.

That's still too early to expect to make it into this stream, even given the light snow year.

Fortunately, our backup stream fished beautifully, and:

  • We caught pretty brown trout on dry flies

  • We tested a new fly rod against an old favorite (and arrived at opposite conclusions)

  • I firmed up a wader review (coming soon)

  • The "new" water I first fished last trip fished nicely again


Unfortunately, because were a little reluctant to walk away from catchable fish, we got to our Highly Experimental Stretch Of A Creek That Should Fish Great But Hasn't
a little late. This is the water that we've now fished (admittedly briefly) three times, yet despite looking absolutely perfect, it has yet to give up a single fish.

Or even a take.

We've crafted a whole series of worthwhile excuses for it -- and I'll be back again sometime soon -- but after a while, you start to wonder about the nature of reality.

If a damned trout would just eat a dry fly, the universe would snap right back into its proper place.

Until then, everything feels just a tiny bit out of true, and I suspect it will remain so until I go back and invest a couple hours in the place, figuring it out or writing it off.

More to come as I get things written for my clients, Tom Chandler.
AuthorPicture

Tom Chandler

As the author of the decade leading fly fishing blog Trout Underground, Tom believes that fishing is not about measuring the experience but instead of about having fun. As a staunch environmentalist, he brings to the Yobi Community thought leadership on environmental and access issues facing us today.

11 comments
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New Underground Tagline: "Reality Sucks, Sometimes"
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I know the nature of reality. Sunday night, stripers popping everywhere all around me, but not one take (someone said it was mother's day karma). Last night, not a fin stirred the glassy surface. Reality is real.
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That's why you're the roaring success that you are, Tom. You know your audience.
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Tom Chandler: I’m planning to sell a couple that don’t see use, though probably not to the Undergrounders, who are cheap bastards. Anyone looking for a hollowbuilt 8.5? 5wt Thramer? Then maybe you can buy yourself a new set of tires for The Bronco . The last time I saw your tires I could see the air! Talk about cheap bastards.
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I'm planning to sell a couple that don't see use, though probably not to the Undergrounders, who are cheap bastards. Anyone looking for a hollowbuilt 8.5' 5wt Thramer?
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Humph.....If you'd sell some of those Fabled Fly Rods, you could afford one of those Ikon Broncos that MoldyChum is highlighting on his site.......
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Six years ago, early May, 2006 a friend in Dunsmuir was trying to take me out toward Little Glass Mountain for some geology exploring and we headed north up (likely but I don't remember for sure) Harris Springs Road from Hwy 89 some miles east of McCloud. The road was open because there was active logging going on at the time. Open that is till we got about a half mile beyond the point where the trucks ... more were receiving the trees and we came upon a straight-up 8-ft wall of snow. That was as far as the logging crew had cleared the road. Honestly, that wall was two feet taller than we were. End of drive to Little Glass Mountain. Alf
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Despite the snowblock, it was a fun trip. More to come soon...
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It's strong but accurate -- at least as far as reaching that stream goes. As for the red devils, well, I gave up on the league a couple weeks ago, which is a just a cheesy way of minimizing the devastation...
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Man, I can feel your pain. That has happened to me a time or two. Glad you had a back-up stream and REALLY glad you caught some fish.
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Hope dies hard on a fishing trip is a pretty strong statement because fishermen are the most hopeful lot that I know. Otherwise, there would be a whole lot fewer of them. Luckily, the backup stream sometimes steals the show. Sounds like you did just fine despite the disappointment. And speaking of disappointment, SO close were them red devils.
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