My fishing partner, Joe Reynolds & I floated it in 1990 with one of the USFS guys that lived in Dutch John. We were a bit incredulous seeing all the trout lined up in rows, just waiting for a food morsel to drift by. When a boat or raft drifted over them, they would part a bit, then move right back into position. We were lucky to hit just when the cicada hatch was taking place. Our flies basically consisted of a small black sponge with legs. Over the course of two days, I'm guessing we caught & released more than 100 trout of one variety or another. Of all the tailwaters I've fished, this one was the top dog.
If you didn't see it earlier, this is Joe releasing another brown.
View attachment 306863
Nice brown.That fishery boasted something like 22,000 fish per mile back then, and was the most heavily populated trout streams in the United States by far. I was also fortunate enough to be there and fish during the cicada hatch as well, and yes, it was beyond spectacular! Here is a picture of probably one of the prettiest browns I’ve ever caught, Green River in September at ‘89.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Nice brown.
I wrote several article on the tailwater fisheries over the years, but they are on computer that has a bad power supply right now. I need to pull the hard drive to get all my data off it.
I wonder if the fishing is still like it was back then.
Sorry to hear that… what was their reasoning?Well we were off to a good start of the salmon season here in NW WA. We got seven nice hatchery Chinook during the first week of the month long season. Largest was 15 lb (netted a 20+ lb wild that we released). Then we got an email notification from the WDFW yesterday afternoon saying it's closed. Not closed after this weekend, or after Friday, but right now. Unbelievable, and this is after no winter fishing for the first time I can remember. So one week of fishing and they are going to decide if we even get to fish for coho later. Arrrrrggghhhh, this state is driving me nuts.
Not bragging but had to vent somewhere, resume the bragging from those who can still fish.
Hit the quota- of 1300 fish. Not sure why they even opened it for that small number of fish for the entire San Juan islands area. Not looking good for re-opening for coho, or even pinks. Meanwhile, a few miles away in BC they are reporting big runs off Vancouver island with 4 or 2 fish limits depending on area, and the border is closed.Sorry to hear that… what was their reasoning?
That’s a stud! Congratulations.Little MS River rod and reel catfish.
A fat & sassy one from Lake Huites, Mex.
View attachment 300963Used to fish Lake Huites often. Friends dad had a fishing lodge on that lake. Seems like it was Reel Mexican Adventures Lake Huites Lodge. Caught tons of big bass.