When fly fishing meets swimmers on the Wilson

[Steve L.]

I know this will be a lesson in frustration, but I'll be hitting the Wilson this weekend to chase cuts and steelies. I plan on getting out early, but I know the swimmers will be flopping about in the best holes by 10 sending the fish who knows where. Sure hope it rains :smirk:

How do you all deal with the swimmers ? I've had them jump into pools I was casting into :bigshock:. So I pack up and move to the next hole. I have had a couple kids want to know why I was standing in the river and why is fly fishing so fun. I tell em to pack a lunch cause this is gonna take a while to explain :wink:, but they're in the minority

[AndyK]

How do you all deal with the swimmers?



I partially answered this in another string. The swimmers usually don't start arriving until late morning or afternoon. Get your fishing in early! Also, as the rivers warm up, the trout will move out of the larger holes and head for running water. I don't think the fish like the swimmers anymore then we do.

I agree that the swimmers ruin our fishing. Same problem on the Deschutes with drunk rafters. We used to be able to fish all day (and catch fish) on the Deschutes. Now it is hard to fish after 10:00 AM during the summer without getting run down by a raft full of drunks.

Again, same problem with the Sandy River in the summer. Before the river clouds up with glacier melt, it is full of catchable Summer Run Steelhead (they're still there after the river clouds up, but good luck catching one!). You just need to search for water away from the swimmers, like faster pocket water.

[Steve L.]

You're right about moving to faster water. I always take both my 5 and 7 wts. When the swimmers wipe out my steelhead holes I head for a couple faster water spot and chase cuts. Even then it's a crapshoot, but still beats getting up early to go to work :grin:

[Dip]

I live a 1/2 mile from the Wilson river during the summer. I swim it almost everyday after work (weather bearing)for lures and just to cool off jumping off of high rocks. I also like to fish the river for trout and get most of my trout in the morning hours before 11am, but there are some other very good spots to go after 10-11am where virtually no swimmers go just a tube crossing every now and then. just takes a little wading or a short walk along the highways in spots.