Nothing kills a good dry fly bite faster than calling a friend and telling him you got ‘em today and to “come along tomorrow – we’ll catch a bunch”.

Of course, nothing makes you forget the above rule faster than a strong dry fly bite.

Thus, the vicious circle.

Upper Sacramento River Tom Chandler
It’s 1:00. The sun is shining. Hope is strong. But the fish aren’t biting.

The person I called is Ron Fritzke – a fly fisher who apparently doesn’t know the above rule of thumb. If he did, he would have hung up the phone without responding.

Instead, we found ourselves hiking two miles down the railroad tracks. I mean, if the October Caddis bite was good the prior day way upcanyon, then hiking a few miles downcanyon would make it even better. Right? I mean, right??

Wrong.

I’ll spare you the Jack London-esque details about hauling our butts up and down the embankment, and how each spot looked better than the last, right up until the point our flies bobbed happily (and unmolested) right through the “can’t miss” runs.

Oy.

I got an 8″ fish early, and later – as the temperature plummeted and my hands tried to dial 911 of their accord and report me for abuse – I got another 11″ fish.

I’m tempted to report that the second fish put on quite a show – skying twice and running downriver like a bonefish – but let’s face it: eleven inches is eleven inches, and that’s not a number that generates a wealth of drama in the fishing world.

Upper Sacramento River Ron Fritzke
Ron Fritzke. He should have known better.

Still, there’s nothing wrong with a hike down the canyon in winter. It’s spare, it’s beautiful in a minimalist kind of way, and Ron’s a pretty interesting guy to hang with.

My Immediate Future.

The weather forecast for the coming week is detestably good. Bright, sunny – the kind of weather that non-fly fishers think is just marvy. Those of us who chase big fish on tiny, tiny BWO flies think it kinda sucks.

And we’re right, damnit.

As always, more as it happens. See you at the rainmaking machine, Tom Chandler.

[tags]fly fishing, upper sac, upper sacramento[/tags]

Posted in Fishing Report, Upper Sacramento.