Sailors On The Blue?

Now, these two kids are either planning on a career in the Navy or they just simply and quite badly wanted to fish for trout from a vessel at Blue River.

When Carol and I first saw this today we took pause and kind of looked at each other for a minute.

These guys were a mile and change up in the south wilderness area with this pond-hopping two man bass boat. They had to carry that contraption in which had to be quite a chore itself. But, to each his own and most certainly there are many ways to enjoy the great outdoors. Geezzz...they had to be tired.

Carol and I got on the water this morning a little before ten o'clock. We hiked straight to Coyote Pass Falls which is usually rich and fertile waters. However, this morning these waters seemed to be indifferent to our desire to pick fights with the bows. We both fished the area but all we got were nibbles for the most part. I say nibbles because the trout's interest was so shy it wouldn't qualify as a strike. But at about the time we decide to go upstream Carol pulls one bow out. She's one up one me.

We head toward the Cove trying to fish the pockets in between. We find few opportunities where we both can fish side by side which is a requirement right now with Carol still being new and tentative in wading. But, we do find pockets and they seem to be pockets of empty hope.

By now, I find myself scratching my head looking for answers. I do observe three things. Today, the river looks lower, at least to me, and she seems to be quite clear in a diminished way, and the sun is shining every so brightly. So, with my thinking cap on I come to the conclusion that the bows either want it lower and slower or in the shadows. So, I find a shadow and make a cast.

The shadow thing worked out quite well for me taking a number of bows. However there is simply not a lot of shadows available. We continue upstream.

We step up on the falls of the Cove and fish the water above. Carol takes three, almost in succession, and I get two ahead of her at this point. We continue on upstream.

As we make our way upstream we keeping looking for pockets that we both can fish side by side but this proves to be a challenge. But the pockets are where the bows are awaiting. Basically it is one fish per pocket and that is how we fish. There are no big concentrations of bows being stacked up or residing in communes...they are really dispersed.

We are headed for the Ancient Boulders, one of my favorite places in the south wilderness. When we get to the Ancient Boulders, Carol decides she will give it a shot knowing quite well that this is some tough wading. She makes it about half-way out and then decides she better head back to the bank. Unfortunately, Carol takes a dive on her way there.

I'm headed for a pocket that I know will produce but on the way see another pocket and plop a fly into it. From that pocket comes two bows but no more. I continue on to the favored water and once here I pluck four bows in short order. Then the winds come up and that seems to shut the fishing down for good.

Back on the bank we are comparing hunger pain growls so we decide to go get a Scotty Burger...and we do. We leave Scotty's with burger in hand and basically devour it before getting back to the river.

We stop at the crossing to fish another thirty minutes or so and take some pictures for a future post about the landmarks of Blue. We both fish the crossing area with no luck and I decide to go downstream to take pictures of the Island, Flats, and Riffles.

And it was at the Riffles I saw one lonely rising trout and I ask Carol if I could have ten more minutes. With Miss Carol's approval I tie on Ralph's Ole Gray pattern and fish that one lonely riser. After about five casts...we meet. It was a great way to end the day.

Carol and I together end up with an even twenty today. Not a stellar day, but my goodness the weather was beautiful.