Brian Griffing
11-03-2008, 10:49 AM
Last year, during the worst of the drought, I remember a thread where people were looking for the good sides of low water. People talked about the fact that the fish were concentrated, easier wading, etc. I mentioned that an angler could now see a lot of possible hiding and holding spots that would otherwise be invisible.
Recently I have discovered another reason why low water is great. Last week I took my 3 year old son fishind with me along Tremont, and yesterday I took my 5 year old daughter. With the water low, I wasn't nearly as nervous about one of them falling into a swift current. I have had them with me when the water was higher, and I didn't get much fishing in. I had to hold their hands every step of the way, as every bit of water was capable of washing a small child downstream. But this summer and fall, I have allowed then to slowly pick their own way through the easier portions, as long as we aren't too close to the main current. They feel a little more independent and get to explore the streambed a little more.
As far as a fishing report goes: I was fishing just a little ways above the Institute, the water temp was 48 degrees between 3 and 5 p.m. I saw light colored caddis coming off the water, and despite being accompanied by a loud, short person who was clad in a bright blue sweatshirt and liked throwing rocks into the water, I was able to land several rainbows, one about nine inches, the rest smaller, and one small brown. I was using a size 16 tan bodied elk hair caddis, which I managed to start and end with, even after putting it in a tree several times while swinging my head around to check on the little girl.
On a side note, I was able to get the brown and one of the rainbows into my daughter's little hands so that she could release them. The rest hit the water between the removal of the fly and the transfer. I know it's a little more stressful on the fish, but you should have seen that little girl's face light up. I think I got a good hook set on her.
Recently I have discovered another reason why low water is great. Last week I took my 3 year old son fishind with me along Tremont, and yesterday I took my 5 year old daughter. With the water low, I wasn't nearly as nervous about one of them falling into a swift current. I have had them with me when the water was higher, and I didn't get much fishing in. I had to hold their hands every step of the way, as every bit of water was capable of washing a small child downstream. But this summer and fall, I have allowed then to slowly pick their own way through the easier portions, as long as we aren't too close to the main current. They feel a little more independent and get to explore the streambed a little more.
As far as a fishing report goes: I was fishing just a little ways above the Institute, the water temp was 48 degrees between 3 and 5 p.m. I saw light colored caddis coming off the water, and despite being accompanied by a loud, short person who was clad in a bright blue sweatshirt and liked throwing rocks into the water, I was able to land several rainbows, one about nine inches, the rest smaller, and one small brown. I was using a size 16 tan bodied elk hair caddis, which I managed to start and end with, even after putting it in a tree several times while swinging my head around to check on the little girl.
On a side note, I was able to get the brown and one of the rainbows into my daughter's little hands so that she could release them. The rest hit the water between the removal of the fly and the transfer. I know it's a little more stressful on the fish, but you should have seen that little girl's face light up. I think I got a good hook set on her.