Just Little Ones

No Stones---Yet.

Using the big rock as cover I was able to catch a few trout from this hole.

The Blacksmith is loaded with stunted brown trout and a few cutthroat.

Small Cutthroat caught on a caddis pattern.

The word was out that large stoneflies were hatching on the Blacksmith Fork in Cache County. I tied up some twisted foam adults and went to check it out. I never saw an adult stonefly anywhere along the river. I decided to fling my foam stone around just in case the trout had seen them and were still willing to rise to one.

I had about five small browns rise to the pattern but turn from it just as quick as they rose. I knew this was a sign that the fly was too big for their liking, and that they had probably not seen a stonefly yet. I went from a size 6 stonefly adult down to a size 14 caddis imitation and was able to hook several fish. All of them small browns and one small cutthroat.

I wasn't too serious today. I just wanted to see if the stoneflies were out. I didn't put on waders, I just walked along the roadside bank and tossed the fly to likely looking spots.

The river is in summer flow conditions. The little snowpack we received this year is definitely gone and I would imagine the river will drop to fairly low flows by fall.

It was a nice feeling to be out. I have an excited feeling about this summer and plan to get out as often as I can.