Between family time, a bout of Bronchitis, Sportsmens Shows and rib injuries I haven't been able to wet a line yet this year. The dismal river reports have helped to lessen the cravings but not eliminate them completely. I had kind of written off the winter and started focusing on honey-do's and preparing for spring fishing.

My buddy started texting me Friday that he was going up for one last cast Saturday and wore me down by Saturday morning. I got up and had a relaxed morning, showered, ate breakfast with the family, all those things I usually skip so I can get to ther river before sunrise. Threw my gear in the truck and headed up with the expectation of just enjoying being out and on the river for a few hours before the storm blew in.

As I drove through Gold Bar the wind was gusting pretty good - another indication that it might be a short and fruitless trip. Got down to the highway side of Reiter about 9am and started casting along with 4 or 5 other guys along that side of the river. There was about the same number on the hatchery side. Saw one bright, but small fish caught on the hatchery side but outside of that the reports I was hearing were pretty slow (as expected).

There was a couple guys at the top hole so I started downstream a little ways. After a bit of no action my bobber went down, I set the hook and felt a little tug (a VERY little tug) and ended up reeling in someone's lost leader with a 5" sculpin which had inhaled a yarnie on the end of it. Got the sculpin freed and the trash line put in my pocket and noticed the top hole was free. By this time the wind was going pretty good making casting a pain so I decided to try up there for awhile.

I also decided to change up my jig color to a new pattern I had tied up but had yet to get wet. I was pretty happy with it and thought it looked pretty fishy, but it is a color I haven't tried using yet, so didn't have high hopes.

I had a good feeling about a seam that is just outside of the pool but after a few wind-caught failed attempts I was getting discouraged. Finally everything lined up. A decent break in the wind, I was cocked and ready and let fly. Hit the seam I wanted, bobber traveled about 10' and down it goes.

A few good runs and tailed a hatchery buck about 8#. It was a little darker than I normally like, but I needed some smoker fish anyway and he INHALED my jig, so on the stringer he went. Never had a fish take a jig as deep as this one did. Guess my new pattern is a keeper.

No long after that the wind clicked up another notch and the rain started spitting, it was time to go. Timing couldn't have been better as by the time I got loaded, changed and in the truck the skies opened up the rain and wind were full tilt.

Nice way to end a slow season on the Sky.

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