Battling Heavy Wind Trout Fishing

I knew today’s forecast was calling for wind slightly out of the north, but what I encounter on the tailrace today was boat sailing wind. I almost left when I saw how windy it was through the gorge leading up to the dam. I remembered making these windy trips here before. I did have the water pretty much to myself, because there was only one other vehicle in the parking lot when I arrived, so with that encouragement I stayed. Dries were out not only because of the wind, but leaves as well, so I tied on size 12 bead head Prince Nymph dead drifting some of the usual places I always fish at the mouth of the tailrace. I lost two trout within the first 10 minutes here, mainly due to show reaction by me. The short takes convinced me to change flies and go with a smaller nymph, and move on to another area above me. I have found that when the fish are finicky the smaller the pattern the better results.





This rainbow fell prey to a weighted size 16 bead head grey scud dead drifting the fly through some fast water, that I have learned to fish to my advantage. This would be the only trout taken for the morning on the nymph, numerous hits, but no results

I really like this fast water dead drifting a bead head pattern. I never see anyone fishing this area, which is too my advantage. I lost 3 trout in here before I finally connected with the scud trout. I think I would have been a bit more successful if not for the tremendous wind I had to contend with here practically on every cast.

As I left the fast water I notice that there was some fairly calm water ahead of me on the west side of the tailrace which was sheltered by trees that lined the bank. The closer I got to the calm water the better it looked because I was noticing some surface action. This told me that there might be a possibility of landing a trout or two on top.  So I tied on the Bomber which is my go to dry fly when surface activity is present.

I was rewarded with this rainbow using Allen’s Bomber, Small Stream Reflections, on a long drift. I had to make some long cast to reach the surface trout on the other side of the tailrace; which would consist of numerous fail cast because of sudden wind burst whipping down the gorge.

I will admit that today was quite a challenge considering the weather. I forgot to mention the temperature was in the low forties today with a cold front approaching bringing temperatures in the low twenties for the coming weekend.

As I was leaving and walking back to the my truck I notice that most of the color from the leaves have gone for this year.

They will eventually cover the road by December---and we will be back to fall again sooner than we all think