Daniels Crick

I thought today was going to be a bust.

I got up at 5am to return to Snake Creek and to see if the big browns were still interested in the WRT.

I learned two things:

1) Hip Boots have a limit

2) If you sit down in the water, your backside gets wet.

I heard some fish working the edges but could not get one to even look at the confidence bait.

OK - I give.

I went in at 6:30am and got ready for the day's meetings.

I decided after we broke up the meeting that I would head up to Daniels Creek or "crick" if you are from New England.

The water level was very low and the water was skinny! This time of year the willows and other vegetation are really challenging.



I started out with the 4wt and a red and black flying ant. I struggled to get the fly into small pockets and pools but finally was rewarded with this little guy.



I fished for the next thirty minutes with the fly rod and the ant and lost the only fish - an 8" cutthroat - that took the ant.

I decided to switch to the UL and the WRT to see if I could tempt any takers in the last light of the day.

In this small water a spot like the one below will get your heart pumping.

It looks fishy!



Just as I thought this nice rainbow was waiting behind the rock.

The next likely place in the creek was a beaver pond formed by a series of dams and channels.
I have fished here before and due to the lower than normal water levels I was able to access both ends of the pond. The lower end held lots of fish. I saw rainbows, cutts and a couple nice browns patrolling the deeper water. I tried every form of WRT that I had with me - silver spinner, gold spinner, spotted, pure white and even a yellowish one that glows in the dark. These were educated fish and they would inspect each offering but none were interested enough to take the next step.

I kept hearing and seeing a fish that was rising near the head of the pond but I couldn't reach him with a cast from my position on the lower dam.

I decided to try to walk around and access the upper end of the pond. I finally made my way through the boggy, thick, brush that was full of deer and moose sign. When I finally came out of the brush, I had a nice open lane and cast beyond the feeding fish and was rewarded with an immediate strike from the fat rainbow below.



When you think it through and stalk a single fish the catch is much more satisfying.

The light was beginning to fade as I found the next spot. These tiny pools usually only have one fish and you have to make a perfect cast to keep out of the trees and rocks.


When you get it right, the result is usually a hungry fish like this pretty rainbow.



The final fish of the day was this little cuttthroat. He was really aggressive and I had a pretty good position in which to make several casts without being detected. My first two casts were short and he came out after the WRT but turned back to his hide before striking. I had seen several fish do this already and usually after two attempts they were convinced that that white thing was not good to eat.

On my third cast I finally got the lure above the fish's hiding spot and I kept the retrieve slow and steady. He came after it and continued to follow all the way out of his pool and through water that was no deeper that 2-3". He followed to within three feet of my rod tip and finally took a bite as I was lifting my rod up.



That was a rare thrill and a great way to finish the day!