8 Sep 2008
Jefferson River Campground
41F and Clear in the morning. Off a little later than usual to Twin Bridges for
breakfast and info on fishing for the day.
Coming into town, I note that they have bicycle lanes running
through town. How progressive! AB tells AM to calm down…there really cattle
lanes for the weekly run through town!
Met Greg and Curtis at 4 Rivers Fishing Co. They have an older black lab named
“Spook”. Today the Jefferson is running high as irrigators have cut back
significantly on their irrigation water needs. However, water levels have become
stable over the last 4 days so fish should be adjusted. Fishing, of course,
“should be good.” Nymphing sounds like the way to go for bigger fish with
hoppers later in the afternoon. Greg suggested waders and not hip boots – water
is so cold that wet wading might be a challenge. Greg gave us several river
accesses to consider but suggested we start at Point of Rocks – a landmark but
unmarked public access put-in & take-out.
We get to Point of Rocks [ turn off highway toward Waterloo, cross Parsons
bridge, turn left on Loomont Ave, left at “T” intersection, cross irrigation
ditch, place is ¼ mile past irrigation ditch crossing.] Trust me, you’ll get
lost – go see Greg or Curtis in the flyshop for advice and directions!
Gearing up we head out and downstream – access along river is difficult due to
the high water levels and our lack of detailed knowledge of a good trail (at the
end of the day we figured out how to do it easier but it doesn’t do us much good
in the morning!). We systematically cover a lot of water on top, in the column
and on the bottom. We don’t get much action – just the occasional small fish
turning. Locating some better water downstream we continue to work the water
through the afternoon until JR locates a chute/pool structure where he and GK
start hooking fish. In fact there are fish working throughout this area – AM
manages to catch a fair number of smaller fish but the larger 17-18 inchers
(Browns and Cutts) seem to come from the JR structure. Big fish are raised to
both a fast stripped sparkly green weighted wooly bugger (AB), large Stimulator
(GK) and a #14 parachute adams (JR). These larger fish have shoulders, running
the reels to the backing….Yahoo!
The author would like to point out that during particularly tough days of fishing, JR is known for moving off the main channels of rivers and exploring what is described by the YG as “Frog Water” as you review our adventures you will find many references to “JR’s Frog Water”. That said, After a few calls of Fish On by JR over the radio, most all the YG members will reluctantly give up the pristine structured main channel of rivers and with head down move to the “Frog Water”…….but all will catch fish. We all agreed that it was a tough river to hit cold and do well (at least at these water levels). Walking back on the road (yes it is an “easier” trail than the bushwhacking we did in the morning), we note some home built hot tubs on the edge of the river. AB gingerly sticks his hand in the steaming water…humm….just like hot bath water! We learned that the locals built these there using available rocks, while some were made of concrete and rocks – the water coming out of the hillside is nearly 200F from a geo-thermal source. Coffee cans were available for mixing with the colder river water and you get a nice natural hot tub – although with a slight sulfur smell that probably isn’t so bad after a few brews.
Arriving back at the rigs about 7 pm, we note that the 6 or 7 trucks with boat
trailers are all gone – these were likely all guides who were taking out at this
location. While we head back to town for chow, we all feel that the Jefferson
has some big fish in it but in these conditions, you have to work a bit to
figure out the river. Driving back from fishing we came across a field full of
sand cranes – we counted at least 58. Also we find a mom turkey and 3 of her
larger spring chicks.
Back to the cabins after dinner to crash!