This years annual Cariboo trip was a bit different than usual. Fewer guys on the crew, more days on the water, 5 lakes fished, two rivers hit and one other lake for drinks, weather was horrible and the river water was much higher.
On the way up to the caribou we hit the the Thompson with some dry flies but the water was high and not very fishy, which was kind of a precursor to how all rivers were probably flowing due to the wet summer. Didn’t fish the Thompson long before we decided to hit the road and head for cache creek where we would stop at the usual herbies hamburgers joint which is a ritual for this caribou trip.
Upon arrival to our destination, our hosts El and Marla put us up in the guest house which was great due to the fact the weather forecast was getting worse every day.
Hit the usual river three times. Twice in the upper and once on the lower. Overall fish seemed bigger but fewer fish caught and seen.
Realizing the water conditions were not ideal we decided to do some exploration. Tried fishing a local lake but had no luck. Also tried finding a lake I have been wanting to fish but that was also a bomb due to bad road conditions and not knowing really how to get there. Ended up fishing a childhood camping spot and caught a bunch of really small fish.
After a good tip from our hosts El and Marla we ended up fishing a local lake right off a main road just minutes from where we were staying: at first the lake didn’t seem to promising as the weather turned to a thunderstorm and lightning. Braving the weather and fear of being electrocuted we headed out: minutes into the adventure Kirby hooked into a monster with his old tequila boobie fly.
This fish ended up being around 7 lbs. (WE didn’t a get a good picture Kirby is not used to holding something that big so he dropped it)
Following this trophy fish came a total of 40 fish landed the first day and 32 landed the second day with many fish long lined released.
After six days of fishing in our usual Cariboo spot, we decided to meet up with a buddy at green lake.
On the way to green lake we hit another well known cariboo lake: trolling leeches around we got into a couple of small ones on the famous pumpkin head leech. Feeling like the summer doldrums have beaten us and the fish were not biting, I see a massive 8-10 over jump behind Derek. Derek grabbed his rod and the line snapped. The fish still feeling like it is hooked jumps two more times. Definitely the largest fish Trout I have seen in Stillwater.
Watched a guy come out and land three fish in ten minutes using a strike indicator and bomber chironimid.
Left the lake and hung out At green lake with a buddy later that night. The next morning we hit watch lake. This was one our spring fishing tournament lakes which has produced the largest fish over 22 years at 8.5 lbs.
Nothing big for us but a few small pennask rainbows.
That concluded the group fishing trip but since I had a couple more days before I hit the okanagan I decided to stay another night at green and then hit a lake closer to my next destination.
The next morning I drove to tunkwa but upon arrival I wasn’t keen on sitting up my tent in 36-38 degree weather so I took off for the mountains off the connector. Went to Vinson but wind was blowing so set up camp at buck. 
Fished buck the next morning but only got into a half a dozen small ones using the faithful micro green gold bead headed leech. The sun came out and decided to hit the road and head off to naramata to relax and take a fishing break.
Although the fishing was not the best on our river this year it’s always fun to explore new wAtsrs and it’s always epic when your explorations bring you new water with big fish.
Can’t wait until the 2020 trip!
fishingbuddha 