The Park 4400 to 4250cfs

Its got a long ways to go, but apparently they're putting a large dent in the lake trout population, evidenced by a large reduction in the number showing up in the nets.  Good news, but the Cutts in their namesake river are still few and far between.  The high flows screwed me again too.  I couldn't wade out much anywhere, and the few rising fish I would see liked it out in the current for the most part, out of casting range.  There were drakes here and there, lots of caddis, a few pmd's, and callibaetis up above Le Hardy in the slower water.  Even saw the ocassional salmonfly.  Seemed the further down river, the fewer the risers.  Didn't see any at or below Buffalo Ford (now called Nez Perce).  It was all from Cascade up, in the slower water.

The flat above the rapids had rising fish both days I fished it, but mostly out of range.  Those that did move into range ate the rusty spinner nearly every time.  The late morning here was the best, with a little evening action . . . out of range.  Had a good evening, albeit brief after sunset, at Cascade after all the roadside fishermen left.  Too much water?  Still too few fish?  Not sure, but it has potential again.

For now, its about hunting single heads that are in range, and don't have someone else on them.  Cascade to Sulfer were getting hit pretty regulary, or at least walked by and observed.  On the bright side, there's some honkers in here.  All I caught was fat 18-22 inchers.  Saw some fingerlings, but not much in between.  Got one on a drake spinner, perhaps the last until next June.  Everything else on the rusty all days.  There were always some spinners on the water of some sort.

Just a little off the bank, and she's big and wide.  

First one on the drizzly first morning

Just enough spent drakes around, fish were looking for 'em.

Tough life.

Very late evening with a slow shutter speed.

#16 thread tail, only fly I needed.

Beautiful flat with one riser on the other side

Not a riser anywhere

None here below Buffalo Ford either.

Good evening caddis flights with no response

This was the area for the most consistency

Consistent light Callibaetis on that upper flat

What they were eating

Pretty cool place to fish.  Temps never reached 80.

Walking fly shop with shit dangling everywhere.  But hey, I'm covered and covered.