Credit River

PB again!! With a drizzle still pitter pattering on my soaked hat, I settled in on the bank, recouping for my hike back to the car. There are always some small brookies to be caught here, so I threw my nymph in to kill some time as I recharged. With the thunderstorm, water already started running a bit high, so increasing my indicator height quite a bit, I intended to dredge deep. Not many casts later, I hooked something... Big... The 12" brookie last year put a serious bend in the tenkara rod, but this was different. It held itself to the bottom with authority, and would give me a good wallop when I tried lifting its head. Seeing the big silvery body, I wondered to myself if somehow some big rainbows were tossed in here. Jumping down to the waters edge, I struggled to net this fish, confirming it to be a ridiculously large brookie for this river! This day has been a VERY fun experience, and while I didn't get to fish the final stretch before the waterfall, I landed 3 superb fish! The wet drive back home was totally worth it!

After making my way up to the pocket pools/rapids, I started to get the hang of fishing shallower runs with my indy rig. I ended up fishing this quite similar to tenkara and had lots of takes from smaller fish. At a big boulder, I hooked into this hog right at the top of the run. She pulled me around and beat my ass with the strong currents. The long fight gave my arm a very hard workout, straining and shaking while trying to drag her into my nearly-too-small net. I've heard of big browns in the credit but catching one of this size in the pocket water section was NOT in my expectations. Now realizing I'm in the presence of possibly multiple big fish, my mind's eye drifted forward, to the next known deep point, from which I've had a big strike prior, but never landed a fish... This deep straight pocket is well covered by a fly gobbling evergreen, and lined with line cutting rocks, however with some skill and careful angles, I started launching my fly in over and over. After setting the depth to nearly 3ft, it happened. A connection was made with a biggun... It was so heavy that I thought it was another snag. A few SLOW head shakes were felt and I understood how outgunned I was with a mere 4wt with 6x. I tried lifting this beast and it would NOT budge. Only a few seconds was I connected with this monster, and it decided a fight with me was not worth its time, and out came the hook... Normally I'd keep hammering the same spot right away, but deciding to do things more strategically, I stopped casting and set a timer for 20min. I took the time to re-tie with 5x, heavier nymph and position myself better for a potential round 2. Unfortunately a wise lunker of this size knew better than I, and unsuccessful casts were thrown over and over again in vain, only fooling a small rainbow form the back of the pool. After all this time used to try and fool 1 fish, I realized something dreadful. The sky had gotten increasingly darker. A quick check of my phone revealed the forecast had changed, and rain was expected...now... Mere minutes after this revelation, the rain gods hammered down on me with thunder, drenching me faster than if I stepped into a running shower. Uh oh... I'm in a really bad position now... I have just reached the big stretch of sketchy rapids before the waterfall, where my only known exit from the canyon exists. I'm barely comfortable with navigating this stretch on a dry day with normal flows, and now it's downpouring with noticeable increase in turbidity and flow. My other option was to wade all the way back to my starting point, which would have been dreadful with the torrent. Standing under a tree in vain, I remembered a small access to the water nearby which seemingly had no trail leading to it. I decided to give it a go seeing as both other choices were not ideal. The gravel access lead to a near vertical climb up the valley, furnished with steel ropes for support. This was not a fun time with a 9ft rod in hand! Eventually making my way to a trail, I was left with a bittersweet feeling as I walked high above past the remaining pockets and runs. While I had caught 2 and lost 1 very good fish, my greedy human mind couldn't help but think of the potential monsters of the runs I had skipped. Cursing the weather, I tried to be satisfied with my haul, thinking I'd end the day by pulling a few small brookies as I pass the bridge above the falls before I start the hike back. Little did I know I would be in for another surprise.

Since the trout opener week blitz, I kind of burned my self out on small trout, and have gotten a bit hooked (heh) on steelhead on the fly. I pushed myself to at least do my favourite hike today and holy cannoli was it a FANTASTIC choice. I believe this is my first time fishing this stretch in mid June, and definitely first time with a western fly rod as opposed to tenkara. With rising water temps, I told myself to keep expectations low. Hitting the access point, I drifted the first run which usually holds a nice sized fish. This time was no different. Something mighty heavy took a swipe at my nymph. It caught me off guard and there was no hookup. After only netting 1 nice little rainbow that attacked my indicator, I made my way to the first really good hole. The big logs that used to create cover across the run had been washed away since the last time I was here, and left it looking quite barren. Despite this open stretch of water, a few drifts with adjusted depth connected with this BEAUTIFUL 16" brownie! Feeling stoked and satisfied already with the day, I was not aware yet this was foreshadowing for the rest of the day...

Went to the credit for some brown trout, but forgot my net. So I only landed 2. One brown trout and one rainbow.

Day 2 of vacation went fairly well. Went back to my favourite place and randomly ran into someone also fishing. He caught a steelhead right before I got there. I didn't think I needed bug spray at this time of the year, but I wish I had it. I spent a good part of the day just swatting biting gnats from my face. The bugs, other fisher and higher than normal waters made the day not super great, but still enjoyable.

After strapping my rod to my bag, filling my fish net with trash I found along the way, and climbing out of the valley, I started my hike back. I had forgotten my path takes me past the bridge where I would enter the water, were I to go fishing for brookies upstream of the falls. I decided I still had some time so I brought out the rod again, and started fishing. I knew there were fish right off of the path as Beika Zhan and I both caught 1 each last year at the end of the day. The stream and the aggressive brookies did not disappoint. I was surprised to find 6 willing to bite within 22ft of the ledge (11ft rod, 11ft line). My fish net was still filled with trash I found, so I let the fish go straight from the hook, but the last one was too nice not to photograph so I flipped him up, dumped the trash on the ground and netted him (trash was picked up and packed out). So Beika Zhan , looks like I DID end up fishing above the falls and catch brookies after all lol. All in all, best day of fishing yet. My legs are absolutely destroyed and I am going to feel it tomorrow, but very much worth it.

The final rainbow of the day. Nearing the falls, swimmers and family's played in the water, making fishing difficult. I moved up as far as I could to a deep plunge pool where I landed a large rainbow last year, and started to hammer it hard. Unfortunately the kids had been throwing pebbles into the pools and I guess the fish have been well spooked. Nevertheless, I kept at it as I couldn't move up any further with even more people swimming up near the falls. I sat down on a rock at the end of the run, and a family decided to as well off to the side, watching me fish. At this point, I felt like I HAD to catch something, at least to show something to the kids. I struggled, I struggled hard. I knew there should be fish down there, if only small ones, but nothing I threw even drew nibbles at the start. After way too many attempts, I guess the fish had been "unspooked" and started biting. After a couple dozen more casts, my line straightened suddenly, and the game was on. I knew any fish inhabiting this violent pool of water was built for fighting the crazy current, and this guy sure had power. I had a hell of a time pulling him out from the deep and my hand shook holding the rod. After finally netting my game, i was met with a small applause from the watching family. We all decided to move up to the falls and I proceeded to try fishing the longest run under the falls. People were swimming in it just a few minutes ago so I had 0 expectations, but nothing ventured, nothing gained. I'm glad I ventured as a decent brown had grown tired of the humans ruining his food conveyor that is the flow of water, and bit my nymph with no hesitation. Unfortunately I couldn't pull out my net in time and he got away. A few more fruitless casts made me decide that the end of my adventure has arrived, and I started my brutal climb out of the valley, and the hike back. But the adventure has NOT ended yet. Continued on the next post :D

After the largest rainbow of the day, I ran out of deep runs and reached the start of the endless pocket pools. I have heard of a nickname for these yellow fish being netted and I think it fits pretty well: basket of butter 🤣 This guy was notable compared to the other ones as he has a hint of blue on his cheeks! I hope he successfully grows into a monster, and I can catch him again in a few years.