Searching For Caddis
The last couple days Jason and I have been floating the Eagle in hopes of catching the first caddis hatch of the year. The first day was overcast and chilly but the water had some good clarity and temperature. After floating through a mile and a half of really good private water without a fish we figured it was going to be one of those days on the Eagle. Lew hopped on the sticks and put Jason and I in the “hairlip hole.” Things came to life and we landed a few Rainbows On Soft hackle Pheasant Tails.
Lew with a nice bow he hammered on the Batwing Emerger.
That day ended with me rowing us backwards through trestle rapid (not good), losing a very expensive rod and no Caddis.
The next day Jason and I did find the hatch but not until the last mile of the float. We only saw a couple risers before the river turned to chocolate milk from a dirty feeder creek. Now the river is up to around 1200 cfs and the caddis are back on the bottom.
killer looking fish .. amazing how fish (trout especially) .. can look so different and unique … that’s what makes digital pics and video so cool .. cuz to some a rainbow is a rainbow .. to me, that is not the case… every rainbow trout is unique .. there are no two fish that are identical .. sometimes its minor little details that make 1 rainbow different than all others .. and other times it is obvious differences (like the fish in this pic) … either way i am constantly amazed by the natural art of trout in the sense that each and every one is, in some way, a work of art in and of itself ……
ps .. cool gill plate and dot formations on your fish
Joey,
You didn’t dump that great Orvis TLS rod did you?? Next time that you are floating the Eagle, tie on a Tan/Brown girdle bug or a bitch creek and then drop off a non-bead soft hackle PT. You will be the king of the river.
I am thinking of coming up there in a week or two. Let me know if you are available to guide me.
Zimmer- The TLS is still rocking and rolling but another helios bit the dust…..give me a hollar when you have plans I should be around. The eagle is raging right now 1820 cfs, looks a little scary. I don’t know if they’ll be able to do it in the rowing school if it keeps coming up. Give me a shout.
joey,
Orvis Helios rods suck anyway. That is the best place for it on the bottom of the Eagle. Replace it with a Sage rod and that is all you will need.