Last fly trips of the year

[Annette]

Sadly the rains are comming in tonight and the fly fishing trips will come to an end for this year.
We have been fishing the Kalama river for the steelies and silvers for the last couple weeks and this week when they ( the weather men) said rain , rain, and more rain comming our way All of a sudden we realized we hadnt fished The Cowlitz at Bluecreek for sea run cuts in a couple weeks! So Tuesday we loaded up the big jet boat and headed out. Already at the ramp a guy was telling us that  the searuns were almost done... but we went anyway and it was a great day , sunny, 70+.) We fished all day. Dollar dollar dollar, Dollar for the first fish, Dollar for the most fish, and dollar for the Bigest fish
Third cast, Smokey took the first fish!  bummer. He was using a beaded  yellow  thing that looked like a periwinkle..( forgive me I don't know all the names...)I'm changeing flies!  
Somewhere in the afternoon the score was 7 (me) to 14...youknowwhoo... It was about then when I had a big salmon take the fly I had on and try to leave town! Smokey let the boat drift down to better water and after 15 long minunets he netted the big fish!! After we got it back into the water I realized I got the bigest fish of the day!..Smokey said "the day is young!!" I tryed to tell him that I had a headach and wanted to go home...he said "BULL"..HUMMM But we fished down the river and back up again, caught another five fish  , no big ones!  So the day on the cowlitz came to an end  an hour or so later and I paid him one dollar for his winnings...But he bought dinner on the way home, so I think I came out ahead!
The  next day...

[Annette]

The next morning we switched boats and headed up the Lewis River Hwy to Merrill Lake. The wind was picking up as we backed the drift boat down the ramp. Two guys were leaving, not wanting to fight the wind. We had the electric moter along and Smokey's MUSCLE POWER!!     We headed accross the lake to a quiet cove and the fish were jumping here and there. Smokey missed his first strike and before he could get back on it I cast my emerger to the spot and BAM !! I got the first  doller fish!!  Then I cought another one, Smokey got one then another one! I caught another and before we knew it the fish had stopped hitting . So we rowed down the lake, Smokey let his fly drift behind the boat and I fished the bank . Down at the quieter end

[Annette]

Sorry..At the quieter end we fished with top water flies , Smokey swiched to.  a Hex Emerger and I stayed with my brown collored emerger .The water was lower than we had ever fished it and the chanels from the creeks held some biger fish. Smokey landed a beauty  that measured 18+ inches!  I queckly snaped a picture before he released the big fish..".Dollar fish"  he said....yea yeah...I still was ahead by one fish.  Soon I had caught a big trout that measured  up to his! The fishing  slowed down  and dusk  was sneeking  down the draws so we drifter back towards the ramp. THATS WHEN ...Smokey had a strike, I had a strike ..I missed it. Smokey tangeled up his line..I missed the fish again and cast right back to the spot but the fish didn't strike. I had changed to a yellow Hexigena emerger when the fising had slowed down  ...and now it sat quiet on the glassy water just 3 feet from the bank while Smokey was working with his line. Then after about 2 minunets BAM!! Another Strike! AND HE's leaving town!!!   I thought he might be the BIGEST fish of the day.. then he jumped 2 feet out of the water and both of our jaws dropped!He was the bigest trout I had hooked in these united states!!! I fought him for almost seven minunets before we were able to  get our hands on him.
he measured ovre 22 inches!!   On the way home Smokey got out the dollar I had given him  the day before and handed it to me.

[Shootmoore]

Sounds like a few excellent days!  Thanks for sharing them, love to hook up on a fly, especially the topwater.

Shootmoore

[Annette]

Here's some pictures

[Annette]

   Here's the bigest trout of the year!!   hummm I should get a dollar for that!

[Shootmoore]

Here's some pictures

Those are some nice fish.

[Cap.Silver]

Annette ,nice pics. Thank you for sharing ...... how was the trout ?

[Annette]

  All fish were released un harmed!

[ribka]

Nice report
Hopefully will get out and fish Lenice before it closes

[Annette]

  Ribka, What will you fish for at lenice?

[Shootmoore]

If your looking for some winter flyfishing Anette you should make a trip over to Rufus.  Some good fly fishing for Triploids and natives in December, January....if you don't mind the cold that is.  A good heater and a top on the boat is a must.  Used to have a lot of good times doing fish and fowl trips up there in late November and December.

Shootmoore

[boneaddict]

Living vicariously through your report.  I miss the water.  I need to put this camera down

[Annette]

Rufus Woods ! We'll have to try that!
Wish we could pull the boat behind the trailer, We're headed for Kettel Falls on Sunday to get ready for the opening WT. Tail hunt that opens on the 10th. We would be close then to fish too. Is there any bank fishing up there?

[Shootmoore]

Rufus Woods ! We'll have to try that!
Wish we could pull the boat behind the trailer, We're headed for Kettel Falls on Sunday to get ready for the opening WT. Tail hunt that opens on the 10th. We would be close then to fish too. Is there any bank fishing up there?

Yes there is a couple spots.  Not sure how the fishing is right now as I live on the wrong side of the mountains to fish it regular.  I'll see if I can figure out how to attach a map to a pm when I get home from work with some directions.

Shootmoore