A New Place Part Deux

This morning started at 3:00am. Up with my wife that had to be at work to do a software upgrade at 0530. Since I had an eye doctor appointment (still trying to get my new sun glasses in focus) I figured I'd go back and try the Mokelumne a second time. I arrived at 0 dark 30 and waited until I could see my hand in front of my face. Then I could make the climb down to the river. This is the river shot from the 8/26 post. This morning the flow was about half and no, I didn't take a picture. I had the camera with me and had all the intentions in the world to get one, just didn't.

I started with my spinning gear and a silver Panther Martin. Nothing. Gold PM, nothing. At 0800, I left and went to my doctor appointment. Interesting, he had to change my eye perscription to make the sunglasses work. Now I have one perscription for my regular glasses and a different one for sun glasses. Weird huh?

Back to the river and went to another spot, same thing, nada. Changed to a crawler with a little split shot and bottom bounced it through the riffles. Didn't want to do that before and then to the doctor smelling of worm poo. Nope, nothing again. Went a little further upstream. A little more bottom bouncing and still nothing.

Further upstream I came to an area that was like a swimming hole. You know, ropes hanging off the trees, deep holes, rock barriers, and trash. Back on 8/26 when I was here before, there were a bunch of people swimming in the river. Not today. I had it to myself. Down another hill to the river and out with the gold PM. Again, nada.

The thing I saw was, fish surface feeding. Aha, he says. Back to the truck, rig up the fly rod (I specifically put it into the truck, just for this reason), put on a Yellow Humpy, and back down the hill (did I mention the hill is about 20 from top to bottom? Now I can tell my doctor I'm really getting exercise) to the river. Humpy out, fish turning up their noses at it. Still don't know if a fish can do that. Sure seems so. How about a Royal Wulff? The nose thing again. How about a Zebra Midge under an indicator? Nope. They were surface feeding, you say, why not match the hatch? Would have if I could have seen what the hatch was. Things were so small I could see them out over the water, but up close they were about the size of a pin head. I couldn't even see them to catch one, so I used my best guess. Tried a Zug Bug, a little grey scud on an indicator, went back to an Elk-Hare Caddis, a stimulator (littlest one I had), and finally a Prince Nymph with a Copper John dropper. I just couldn't get any interest in anything, but they were sure feeding on what ever that little bug was. I saw rolls of 8" to about 11" Rainbows.

Well, I didn't catch anything today, but now I know where they hang out, at least during the week. Weekends are questionable, but Fall is coming. I also heard a rumor that a lady (name unknown) caught a 4lb Brown on a Kastmaster, last week. Things are definately looking up.

That's it for this addition. Till next time.

Mark (Shoreman)