December, 1999

12/5:  A return visit to our newly discovered tailwater didn't produce the same results as did our first trip there.   The most obvious reason for our lack of success was the fact that the air temperature started out below zero never got above 20 degrees while we were there.   Fighting frozen fingers, iced up line & guides was really not much fun.   Sue had the only strike of the hour we were on the water using the same red midge larva that was successful on the previous session.

But interestingly, just as we were packing up to leave a strong white midge hatch occurred, and the fish immediately began bulging and gobbling them on the surface.  Unfortunately by that time we were so chilled that more casting was out of the question.  It does point out the need to be patient and also to try different approaches to solving the problems of what the fish are interested in that particular day.

12/12:  Saw a good dozen fine rainbows between 14-18 inches swinging in a tight run on Gore Creek this afternoon, but no matter what I threw at them, I was left strikeless.  Even using a fifteen foot leader and the smallest of midge larva brought nothing.  Unfortunately that can be the case this time of year.   Hope to get out somewhere one more time before ski teaching sets in earnest next week.

12/16:  On a hot summer day with multiple hatches in progress and fish breaking the surface continuously, catching only a single, lonely 13 inch brown trout would be unimaginable.  It would almost be emasculating.  But on a cold and windy December day on the frigid Blue River, it was a real blessing.  That fish surely had the Christmas spirit, and I of course, reciprocated by releasing him gently back to the water.

With nonstop ski school bookings through the first of the millennium this may have been the last trip for 1999, so it was indeed a pleasure to end it on a modestly positive note.  Nymphing was the order of the day, and with everything rejecting the tiny red midge larva, the equally tiny baetis emerger fished mid level did the trick.  Thank you Mr. Brown Trout.

Last Logbook Entry  � for previous days.

12/27:  And for what has to be the last day of casting in 1999, today was a virtual repeat of 12/16.  The only difference was that today's brown trout was half the length of the earlier one.  So let's say this year will not go out with a bang, but more of a whimper.  Still I saw lots of fine rainbows finning gently on this stretch of Gore Creek.  But no matter what I threw at them - large, small, from upstream or from downstream, only the stupid little brown showed any interest in my offerings.  Bye bye 1999.

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