I usually struggle in July

[ChezJfrey]

But nabbed one today. Was the only take of the day for me, but saw a fair number of other, unwilling fish today. I think the 62 degree water might be turning some of them off.

Took a size 2, all black spinner in a tailout on the Clackamas.



In unrelated, bummer news, I broke the tip of my 8 weight fly rod today, setting the hook on what turned out to be a snag. Fortunately, warranty is lifetime, so it'll get back in action soon, I hope. BTW, awhile back I bought a Wulff triangle taper from the Hit Man, to help with my lackluster roll cast. I also wanted to learn some spey type casts for my single hand and he mentioned, when I bought the line from him, that the triangle taper is a bit of a crutch, but can shoot a mile. Took me a little to get used to it, but whoo boy, he wasn't kidding. I feel like a pro, flipping up, wind around on the surface, and whipping line across the river with my single hander! That's my kind of crutch Dig the way that line casts, but kind of a pain to mend...aerial, or real quick, soon-as-it-hits-the-water mends are where it's at for that line.

Thanks again for the line purchase, HHM.

 

[bran_man]

Nice chromer. Looks like a decently hefty one too

 

[18406ej]

Very nice fish Chez. Hard to imagine the Clack being up to 62 degrees though, as I always thought it only ventured toward the low to middle 50's. Maybe that is why the number of drownings involving great heights and drunk people is so low thus far?

EJ

 

[Tinker]

You're not losing all of them! Nice looking fish. Sorry about the fly rod, 'tho.

 

[Silvers&Steelies]

Bummer about the rod. Nice fish at least your getting some action. The last three times I've been out on the Clack I only hooked into one steelhead and lost it from a broken leader. Caught four decent trout though. Did it hit on hardware?

 

[bran_man]

Did it hit on hardware?

Took a size 2, all black spinner in a tailout on the Clackamas.

^^^^ sounds like it to me

 

[ChezJfrey]

^^^^ sounds like it to me

Yeah, bran_man's got it...fortunately, took two rods with me while pounding from the bank. I don't yet have 100% faith in my ability to nab one with a fly, so I bring my trusty backup to use after I cover the holes with several fly presentations.

 

[ChezJfrey]

Very nice fish Chez. Hard to imagine the Clack being up to 62 degrees though, as I always thought it only ventured toward the low to middle 50's. Maybe that is why the number of drownings involving great heights and drunk people is so low thus far?

EJ

Even after reading this page, http://www.dfw.state.or.us/RR/willamette/ , indicating the Clackamas was 63 degrees, I was a bit skeptical. But, I took a thermo reading myself, which confirmed the warmth. Around August last year, the water level was the same, but was about 5-7 degrees cooler and I was getting steelhead hits left and right out of these same spots...sure wish it would cool down so I could repeat those summer glory days from last season

 

[bass]

Great job ChezJfrey and thanks for the report.