Winter fishing withdrawal is a thing especially when warmer than usual temperatures arrive in late February!
Last weekend headed out with a buddy to the Squamish River to practice my Czech Nymphing technique.
The weather was amazing with plus 10 degree temperature, no wind, blue bird skies and although there was a lot of traffic we managed to find a long stretch of good water to wet our lines.
Nothing beats the first few casts after hibernating over the winter. Yes winter is a time for tying flies, watching fly fishing videos with your buddies and if you are lucky…fish somewhere hot and tropical but when I toss your first cast after this long winter stretch one feels nothing but happiness because this marks the start of another season.
One of the perks about finding untouched water in a high pressure system is that you have to walk a lot which also targets the other goal which is to get off my ass and walk more.
We managed to find some amazing water at our first stop. After a few holes on the stretch I switched from an egg pattern to a small white streamer pattern. Not long after switching my fly drifted back to the shore line after crossing a deep cut bank when I felt a tug. Thinking it was a snag I pulled but then it started to pull back. Unlike some strikes this one was a gradual tug but quickly realized it was a possible bull trout by the way it was fighting.
Landing the fish and getting the beautiful landscape in the background was fantastic.
Although we didn’t land another fish that day we managed to do a lot of exploring and ended the day visiting my buddy Burt’s new food truck and brewery called Hop Creek Farm. If u haven’t been it’s a must! Best beef brisket ever!
fishingbuddha 