PittsburghD
07-18-2006, 08:03 PM
So after all the hype and the warnings about water levels and rescuing a body, I still went. In spite of it all here's my story. Played eeny meeny miney moe to choose between Mecca and Locked Gate. Mecca got first shot. Hit the water at 8:30 with every elk hair caddis I could. The air was full of them, PMD and blue duns. Nada on feeding fish. Hula (black lab) had a blast trying to rip burried sticks upriver while I hit the water below. Then, went to nymphs and wore out that box too. Around 10:30 Hula located the first rattler of the day dead in the middle of the path (a good 4 footer rattlin' up a storm). Fortunately we made it away safely without any strikes. Then hooked up with another 3 footer in a sagebrush by the water around 11:00 again coiled and rarin' Anyway, Mecca seemed to have more hungry snakes than trout. Took off to Locked Gate at Noon. Snagged a nap at Devil's Canyon campground in the heat of the day and then to the gate. Nothin' movin' in the air, so I nymphed out my box again. I know I'm not the best of fishermen, but the Bid D in July... Anyway, I gave up at 3:00 p.m. and went back to the car to grab...gulp...my steelhead rod (gulp...spinning). Then to the seam above the gate for about, oh, five casts and wham! A silver rocket outta the water. A five to six pound football stripping line from my rod and out of the water he soared again and spit the #3 fox back to the beach.
That was worth it. Knowing something lived in those waters that thought I was worthy enough on that day. No pics, sorry. If you've been there you know how beautiful it is in July with no one around and no fish in your hands.
<font color="yellow"> --D </font>
That was worth it. Knowing something lived in those waters that thought I was worthy enough on that day. No pics, sorry. If you've been there you know how beautiful it is in July with no one around and no fish in your hands.
<font color="yellow"> --D </font>