LOAH
09-03-2012, 11:12 AM
Sunday was a day full of hiking and exploring a beautiful creek. The recent rains left the water a bit murky, but it was a great adventure.
Once I got off the main trail, the water cleared up a little bit and the fishing picked up nicely. Though I caught a lot of fish, they all required some work. Many of the pockets were situated in places that left me hopping from boulder to boulder while trying to remain undetected.
Marabou jigs in black, brown, and olive/black were the best producers, though I stayed with the brown the longest. Spinners worked for a few fish, but the ability to work the deep pools with the jigs proved to be the most effective.
Here are a ton of pics:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater002.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater003.jpg
Neat little overhang, just off the main trail. Unfortunately, there was a bit of litter left by some jerks. I packed that out for them.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater010.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater011.jpg
Plenty of smaller fish:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater013.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater014.jpg
This hole was a winner:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater015.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater017.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater021.jpg
Structure everywhere:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater022.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater025.jpg
Here's a bigger one that I caught from one of those hidden pockets I was talking about:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater026.jpg
All I did was hang the jig and bounce it a couple of times next to the collection of foam.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater027.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater028.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater032.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater034.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater037.jpg
A few cutthroat also came my way. One was about 14", but slipped away while I was messing with the camera.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater039.jpg
Nice bridge:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater040.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater043.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater044.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater045.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater047.jpg
Awesome creek:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater051.jpg
One little collection of foam along a steep bank looked especially ripe for the picking, to which I obliged. My jig landed where I wanted it to and I let it sink. The line bounced and as I set the hook, my rod tip was pulled into the water for a moment.
Whatever had my jig was big and didn't want to be bothered. After bulldogging me through an underwater obstacle course in that hole, it took to the air and decided to fight me into the next pool, downstream.
It didn't stay there for long either, shooting down to the next one as well. It was all I could do to keep up with it, hoping my 4lb line would hold.
Finally, I guided the bruiser into some shallow water and cornered it. What a fight!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater052.jpg
Another look:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater053.jpg
Gorgeous fish!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater054.jpg
Continuing upstream, there was more of this:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater055.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater058.jpg
And this:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater057.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater061.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater063.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater064.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater067.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater068.jpg
This hole kept me busy for awhile. It's sure to haunt my dreams with the deep shelf and that hollow spot behind the falls. Just incredible.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater069.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater075.jpg
That shelf went back about six feet and held a good eddy. Casting a jig in there was pretty tough, but thanks to my lunch break fishing, I get a lot of practice, hitting small spaces with jigs.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater076.jpg
Something big struck in there, but shook off after only a couple of seconds. Never got to see it. A smaller one came in on another try.
Surprisingly, the hollow spot didn't give me anything, though it was full of water and looked perfect.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater082.jpg
What a stream!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater080.jpg
Before I knew it, I'd burned much of the daylight and needed to turn around. This was the last hole I fished before doing so.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater084.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater087.jpg
Several bites were missed there, but a couple of fish still made it to hand.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater096.jpg
Time to hike back down.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater092.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater089.jpg
It was a blast to get out and fish that creek again. The canyon was all mine once I broke trail and I couldn't have asked for a better day of stream fishing.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater038.jpg
Happy Fishing, Humans.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater059.jpg
Once I got off the main trail, the water cleared up a little bit and the fishing picked up nicely. Though I caught a lot of fish, they all required some work. Many of the pockets were situated in places that left me hopping from boulder to boulder while trying to remain undetected.
Marabou jigs in black, brown, and olive/black were the best producers, though I stayed with the brown the longest. Spinners worked for a few fish, but the ability to work the deep pools with the jigs proved to be the most effective.
Here are a ton of pics:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater002.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater003.jpg
Neat little overhang, just off the main trail. Unfortunately, there was a bit of litter left by some jerks. I packed that out for them.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater010.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater011.jpg
Plenty of smaller fish:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater013.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater014.jpg
This hole was a winner:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater015.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater017.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater021.jpg
Structure everywhere:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater022.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater025.jpg
Here's a bigger one that I caught from one of those hidden pockets I was talking about:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater026.jpg
All I did was hang the jig and bounce it a couple of times next to the collection of foam.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater027.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater028.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater032.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater034.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater037.jpg
A few cutthroat also came my way. One was about 14", but slipped away while I was messing with the camera.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater039.jpg
Nice bridge:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater040.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater043.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater044.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater045.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater047.jpg
Awesome creek:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater051.jpg
One little collection of foam along a steep bank looked especially ripe for the picking, to which I obliged. My jig landed where I wanted it to and I let it sink. The line bounced and as I set the hook, my rod tip was pulled into the water for a moment.
Whatever had my jig was big and didn't want to be bothered. After bulldogging me through an underwater obstacle course in that hole, it took to the air and decided to fight me into the next pool, downstream.
It didn't stay there for long either, shooting down to the next one as well. It was all I could do to keep up with it, hoping my 4lb line would hold.
Finally, I guided the bruiser into some shallow water and cornered it. What a fight!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater052.jpg
Another look:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater053.jpg
Gorgeous fish!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater054.jpg
Continuing upstream, there was more of this:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater055.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater058.jpg
And this:
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater057.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater061.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater063.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater064.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater067.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater068.jpg
This hole kept me busy for awhile. It's sure to haunt my dreams with the deep shelf and that hollow spot behind the falls. Just incredible.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater069.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater075.jpg
That shelf went back about six feet and held a good eddy. Casting a jig in there was pretty tough, but thanks to my lunch break fishing, I get a lot of practice, hitting small spaces with jigs.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater076.jpg
Something big struck in there, but shook off after only a couple of seconds. Never got to see it. A smaller one came in on another try.
Surprisingly, the hollow spot didn't give me anything, though it was full of water and looked perfect.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater082.jpg
What a stream!
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater080.jpg
Before I knew it, I'd burned much of the daylight and needed to turn around. This was the last hole I fished before doing so.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater084.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater087.jpg
Several bites were missed there, but a couple of fish still made it to hand.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater096.jpg
Time to hike back down.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater092.jpg
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater089.jpg
It was a blast to get out and fish that creek again. The canyon was all mine once I broke trail and I couldn't have asked for a better day of stream fishing.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater038.jpg
Happy Fishing, Humans.
http://i1266.photobucket.com/albums/jj525/troutforbrainz/SixthWater059.jpg