Thought I had blown it on the way into Broken Bow!

Got up and headed for my little slice of heaven in Oklahoma yesterday morning, cause I really needed a fishing fix! Has my life really gotten this stressful? Damn! On the way to Broken Bow I hit a storm; Biblical proportion Noah get the Ark kind of storm I am talking here! It was coming down in sheets, and more sheets! I thought I had really screwed the pooch on this one for sure. The river was going to be completely unfishable no doubt, but I was almost there so what the hell!

Got into town and headed to the coffee shop for a snack and a refill. I headed straight to Spillway Creek to exact some revenge on the fish that had gotten the better of me a couple of weeks ago. Walking in I realized that this might really be a short trip with the runoff coming down into the river. No doubt I was alone on the water in the morning, who else is dumb enough to drive 3 hours into a downpour to fish? Me and a couple herons were about all!

 

 

 

This is what I found, stained and high don't do justice to how rough it was looking. I made my way up the trail to the hole I was going to fish and wondered if I should even try to get in position. The water was high enough and swift enough that I began to wonder how I could kill the rest of the day. I was determined and got in and started working the pool I wanted and was able to make it out alive, whew! But it was tough and there were no fish to show, yet!

So I walk back down and decide to try right above the lower foot bridge. I also made a pattern switch to a red San Juan worm, BINGO! I started getting into fish now. The best was a nice colorful 12" bow. Sorry, no picture of him though. He got hooked with my leader stuck on a 2 foot branch and running downstream into a fast current. I thought losing a fly was better than floating into the Cold Hole and he was gone! The skunk was gone and I am in the game now.

I moved to the Evening Hole and found some more fish, and lots of debris. The river had really gotten up and there were leaves and branches all over the path in the middle of EH. It looked like the flood aftermath last year, WOW! But there were fish feeding and getting hooked which changes your view of things quick! I hooked 8 fish in the EH and landed one, it was tough. And apparently there was a Dork Fish there that let me land him! What is a Dork Fish?!?

So I headed to Three Rivers Fly Shop for a break and to settle up on some stuff. We chatted for a bit and talked about the didymo that was found recently. A huge threat to trout fishing!!!! And then decided to head back for a little more fishing before I was off to home.

Back to Spillway Creek and the water is really clearing up now. Time to go exact revenge back in the original hole. I was hopeful but not expecting tons of fish. I got there and it was open, a small victory to start. Move out and start working, drift after drift goes by and I am not getting anything. Lose a couple of flies, now the frustration is setting in. More weight to get down deep fast, still nothing. A hunch says to move the indicator down and fish a little less deep; not much but about 12-18 inches. A couple more drifts and BAM!!! Fish On! He feels nice and weighty. I am trying to get him turned to me and get my net, watch out for the wading staff, net on him and gone! The net missed and popped the fly out of his mouth. Next fish turned, saw him and felt the tug before he spit the fly at me. How rude! Another fish on and it won't come up, must be nice; don't run under that rock and damn! Broke me off!

Alright, just one fish and a picture is all I want. It is amazing how fishing can make you religious, "Please let me lift a fish and get a picture and I will be ready to go Lord. " Sound familiar? Drift after drift and I am thinking that Dork Fish is the only thing I am lifting today, until WHAMMO! A nice strong tug and I am back in the fight. Work the fish, keep it off the log and turn it. Keep tension but don't break it off; come here and get in the net. YEA!!! Got her. Nice, thick shouldered female about 14" long. Good heavy fish. Picture taken, see below, and a successful release! YES!!!

 

The water had cleared significantly since the shots in the morning. I could see almost everything like I normally do at the lower foot bridge. It had been a good day and I was ready to head home. Stopped for a few last pics on the river.

 

 

Nice peaceful drive home and some good memories of fishing for me. Made it home to find the fabulous Lucie waiting for me to tuck in with her and dream of how great life is knowing she is there for me! A good day indeed!