Went with an old friend trout fishing on Labor Day. Started out at Desperation Hole on the Davidson until lunchtime (getting better with 12 foot leaders and 6x tippet- managed 4 uneducated trout and missed 4 goodies, all on either a #18 black foam forest ant or a #22 BWO Barr emerger), then we went on a good drive, a good hike, and some bushwhacking to get to a tiny little stream where we harassed the natives a little. Combat fishing! Close quarters, hand-to-fin combat fishing. Gotta love it!
Tom, there was only myself and my partner for over half the day in Desperation Hole. There were 3 fly anglers by the hatchery bridge for an hour or so, and another older guy who came down for a short while at the tail end of Desperation Hole, who finally gave up and left after he didn't get a look. That's three times in a row now where I've gone on a busy weekend or holiday and had the Hog Trough to myself. 12 foot leaders and 6x/7x tipper isn't for everybody, I guess, but I'll take it!
Something about Desperation Hole...when I finally took a break, after what I thought was maybe 2 hours, I was only slightly surprised to find that it was more like 5 hours. Last time I was there, 2 hours was more like 8! Time has no meaning there...
Tying on size 22 emergers is a major pain, however...
You know those steps that lead down to the Hog Trough/Desperation Hole from the parking lot? I have decided, they are NOT steps, they are casting platforms! A multi-fish day in the Trough was once a fairy tale to me, and Monday I mostly stayed out of the water and used single-hand spey techniques to fish to risers- really think that made a difference. 3 to hand and 4 Long Distance Releases in 5 hours, and countless looks and follows (as opposed to the usual "slide out of the way until it passes") equals a fantastic day there, to me. Only a matter of time until one of the mac daddies in the Pool takes me for a ride...
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