As the summer temps heat up so does the number of hefty browns!

a quick snapshot of the water rising as the gates opened and we waited to launch the boat. June 11, 2013

What a day it was for of one of my regulars Bill Wegrzyn and his guest, Dave Jones.

We started the day fishing the tail-out of the previous generation downstream, rainbows came thick and fast with one brown. Assuming the generation schedule was correct we pulled out from fishing the Shoestring shoals zone and headed for the dam. Generations were predicted to start at 2pm. We arrived at the dam as water was on the rise.

It will take a while before the new water flushes out to clean water, more to the point new water is way colder than the low water levels that have absorbed the heat of the day, further as it covers the sun baked rocks heat is introduced to the new water, bottom line is it takes a while before fish will settle to new zones and begin to feed once generation levels have steadied and water temperature has regulated.

We headed to the upper section of the dam zone, just as we arrived off went the horn and more gates were opened, 4 in all. I had rods rigged and ready to go. First drift both Bill and Dave hooked into fish, Bills a fine 18 ins Bow, Dave’s took off upstream in a hurry. Taking his time his 26 ins brown was duly brought to the boat and in the net, just as the horn blew and 2 more gates were opened.

A run to shore for the photo op, personally, l hate to see our trophy fish dropped in the boat, even worse when we are seeing 90f days and the boat deck is red hot. I prefer my fisherman to be on the bank by the waters edge, way less harmful to the trout is they are dropped at the water edge also we can keep them more comfortable for release in softer water. Its a big mistake to play a fish hard. keep it out of water for a extended period of time and then expect it to deal with fast high water flow rates. Many will die after release treated in this manner.

Bill proudly displays his hefty 22 inch brown.

To date Dave’s fish is his largest trout to date caught, ironically his previous best a fish of 24 ins he also caught when guided by me. I had also told Dave as we commenced to fish that you never know what you may hook at BSD, but a few minutes later his trophy Brown was hooked.

Dave battled his personal best to date- a 26 inch brown. Davy Wotton photo

No more Browns that day but between Bill and Dave a bunch of fat beautiful Bows.

Today was Bills turn for a trophy Brown, once again high water levels with 6 gates open. A fine 22 incher to finish a great day with many more fine fat bows brought to the net before.

Flies of note used were white tail midges in black and red, micro worms, PTNs, DW Orl fly.

DW