Chapter 58 Day 65 - Trout Season

Clear As Gin

I got to swing by the river today.  Arriving around 2 p.m., time was extremely short having to be back at the prairie home by 3:30. 

The river is as clear as gin in many areas.  In the shallow areas it is transparent!  When the river gets this clear we have to start re-examining our selections.  Usually I go to smaller and more natural looking patterns. 

Where I was on the river I saw trout keying on the midges, so I quickly grabbed my rod.  With time being so short, here I was on the river trying to push 4X through a size 20 midge pattern.  First of all, 4X is way too thick for that size of fly and secondly it's dog-gone hard to push that rope through a 20 eye.  I would have saved time - by taking the time - to add some 6X.

Two midge patterns were lost at sea from strikes and me trying to set the hook too hard.  One other midge was lost to the clutches of a cedar tree. 

I really didn't do well at all today with only one bow coming to hand.  The assaults by the trout were rather sporadic and one problem I had was not being able to get closer than thirty feet from where the limited activity was taking place.

So, be advised that the river in the campground area is clear as gin.  I don't know how more clear it can possibly become.