Notes from the Continuing Apocalypse

      As of this writing Fish & Wildlife continues to close the rivers & streams of Washington State due to low flows & water temperatures approaching the upper range of tolerance for salmonids. It’s not as bad as Iran where, I’ve heard, deadly temperatures of up to 150 degrees have been recorded lately, nonetheless, 100 degree temps add up to less than pleasant trouting, so we’ve canceled all guided trips for this season, & we pray that next year is different.

The upper Columbia, my home water, is a tailwater, & water temps are still within the tolerance range, yet insect hatches have been nil & concentrated into short bursts right up against dark, so with no clients & not much fishing to do, we’ve been beating the heat working hoot owl hours upgrading the Boundary fish camp. A friend, David Mills, & I, just completed the new roof & corbels on the loft. We’re calling the architectural style Northwest Gothic (sort of a cross between Craftsman & Chicken Coop). 

The recent Blue Moon did bring a short respite from the heat, giving us a couple days of light rain showers, only enough to dent the dust, but cooler temperatures inspired a fairly decent showing of spotted sedge one evening, & I managed a few trout on an olive & brahma soft-hackle, at sunset. Click on the picture to enlarge it, look closely, slightly to the left of center there is a head & tail rise form left by a nice trout. Casting in the direction the rod tip is pointing & letting the fly swing through the vicinity of that rise, the fish took.

 The rod is a Cabela’s LSi, 11’6” switch, billed as a 6wt, yet I’d rate that as actually the lowest end of its grain window, & a more accurate rating, according to my own tests, more like 160-250 grains – very trouty – action is semi-parabolic & on the slow graceful side, which I like. It is throwing a 28’ floating head made from an 8wt, double-taper line attached to Amnesia running line, & the whole thing works swell, fishing everything from wee soft-hackles to large muddlers. You might be able to tell from the size of the water why such a rod comes in handy.

Footwear for the Apocalypse

I’m loving the Simms wet wading shoes. Nicely designed & perfect in those situations too hot for waders. The Vibram soles are almost as sticky as felt, providing excellent traction & protection on the UC’s loose, stoney banks. They are light weight, dry quickly, & make good boat shoes as well. Best all-around fishing shoes I’ve tried. 

Smoke from B.C. fires darkens the American Reach of the Columbia