d wrote...

hmmm...as i recall you landed a 28-32" brown, didn't you? (it was dark
and we were a bit in our cups, but that's my memory)

Hell, I'll gladly defer to your memory. I love those memories that
add six to ten inches to a fish over a year.... g

in my book, that's
far from "so-so". but, if so, i trust you'll be showing us the not so-so
in july? ...

There are still several mysteries that I have yet to unravel for
that area and is one of the reasons why I thought the fishing was
so-so. I wasn't exactly prepared in terms of my fly patterns which
proved to be a problem. For instance, I used dubbing for our local
sulphurs not knowing that the sulfurs out there were more of an
orange color. At the end of the clave I felt that I could have done
things differently and done better. Fishing Penn's and the various
other streams of the area is very different from fishing out here
and requires some getting used. My first three days there were
pretty slow and basically a learning experience as I acquainted
myself with the local insect populations and fishing. Following
Makela around for a day caused me to change my techniques a bit and
I had more success, but I still feel as if there is so much to learn
about that place. More time and experience are all that is required
since the river obviously had an abundance of insects and, although
I can't vouch for this firsthand, I hear there are quite a few fish
in the river. ;-)

Fortunately for you, the local streams around here are a bit more
forgiving than Penn's was to me last year (I can explain this
further if needed), but I may be bribed to disclose more information
should you find yourself needing it. g If things continue on
their current trend, July should shape up to be a damn good month
out here. There should be plenty of insect activity and water temps
shouldn't be a factor like they were last year on lower Rock Creek,
which will most likely be a factor around here again in August.
--
Warren
(use troutbum_mt on either yahoo or earthlink to respond via email)