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Fish did not comply in helping anglers beat a personal record

A record-breaking outing a year ago was not to be repeated

Okay, so I got skunked on the Methow; roll the tape back to the first week of our vacation in the B.C. Cariboo. Kim and I were back at our favourite lake where a year ago we caught 100 brookies in three hours. The goal this year was to set a better personal best; the fish had different ideas.

We got away on vacation later in August than usual. This put us at said lake in the middle of a moon phase, instead of the peak, fifth, day after the full moon. The lake level was lower than a year ago and there was a strong wind blowing, which hampered our sight fishing abilities. Undaunted we motored back to our favourite spot. Wanting to pick up on last year’s success, I started with a Williams Green Sedge and was into a nice fish on the first cast; it would be many more casts before I set the hook on another. Kim began with an Olive Irresistible. We received hits on almost every cast, but solid hook sets were frustratingly hard to achieve.

I changed flies often in search of that out-of-reach panacea. To her favour, Kim stuck with the Irresistible. In the end Kim landed 20, I 10; a good evening’s fishing by anyone’s standard. The goal was not achieved, but that’s fishing. Thanks goes to the fish for affirming once again, that no one short of God himself is the master.

 

The report

The Fraser is fishing fair to slow for cutthroat, Dolly Varden, and spring. For cutthroat try: Rolled Muddler, Professor, Anderson Stone, Zulu, American Coachman, Renegade, Tom Thumb, Black Gnat, Chez Nymph, and Irresistible. For dolly varden try: Zonker, Eggo, Clouser’s Minnow, Big Black, or Dolly Whacker, in sizes 4 and 8. For spring try: lead-heading with size 4 to 2, Eggo, Big Black, Flat Black, Wooly Bugger, Kaufmann Stone, Squamish Poacher, or Red Spratley.

- Submitted by Jeff Weltz