River Conditions and Weather
River is running low and clear and the valley is decked out in
colors of
gold and amber. The water temperature has began to drop and the
trout are
starting to beef up for winter. This is the peak of the fall
fishing season
and the trout are being taken in a variety of different ways.
Fishing Reports
Dry fly fishing demands long leader systems and a gentle
presentation of
flies like, Griffiths Gnats, Gray Uglies, Renegades, Parachute
Baetis, and
Micro Caddis, in sizes from #16--# 22.
The nymph fishermen and fisherladies, are finding that swinging
wet flies and
flashbacks produces hardy strikes by Rainbows and Cutthroats to
24".
STREAMER FISHING is as always, the favorite fall tactic for big
fish by most
Boxwood Gulch anglers. Zonkers, Buggers, Sculpins, and Matukas on
3X tippet
is producing monster fish from 3:00 p.m. until dark. In the half
light of the
canyon, it's hard to tell just what you have hooked until it
starts it's
ariel display or is in the net.
October 5th, Dr. Don North and 2 associates, landed 5 Bows over 5
lbs. on
their way to a total of 58 fish for the day on the Boxwood
section.
October 6th, found 11 anglers from Pfizer Pharmaceutical and 6
River Ranch
Outfitter guides using both sections of water as an employee
appreciation
day. Keith Wooley hooked a Big Palomino trout on the Boxwood
section, and was
heard by anglers a mile away on the Long Meadow section. The
hollering of
success was followed by dead silence as the Palomino ran directly
at him and
spit the hook. Keith has already booked another October day in
hopes of
replaying the short but exciting experience.
Kurt Hughes topped the day by Buggering a magnificent 7 lb.
Rainbow in the
famed Bridge Hole as the sun began it's decent over Shawnee
Ridge. His fellow
anglers, who had called it a day, provided the perfect audience
for Kurt's
victory over what was the heaviest Bow I had netted in the past 2
weeks.
Looking back over this season of big fish and anglers from all
over the
globe, many memories come to mind, but none are as vivid as the
day that Dr.
Butch Peede brought his family to Boxwood. I'll let the photos
tell the story.
Boxwood Browns and Brookies have not began the fall spawning
ritual yet which
usually signifies a mild October and November. With temps in the
60s and 70s,
and trout that rise to my favorite flies------ I think I'll
follow the side
channel on Long Meadow to a place I call the Slot. I know a
certain trout
there. Maybe I'll even take a rod with me.
Barry Conyers
River Keeper
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