i arrived at notellem river at 4:30pm. the bikini hatch was in full swing in the lower river, so i moved upstream away from the crowds. it was hot and muggy out, so i sought fast moving shaded riffles, using a size 4 panther martin modified with a dry fly as the hook wth pinched barbs. i got lots of interest from 4"-10" fish including cutthroat and what looked to be a small bull trout.(fell off the hook at my feet) i persisted on killing time intentionally at less than perfect slots trying to reach the coveted evening bite, saving my best holes for last. this worked out perfectly.
i reach my first of 2 good-great runs and i pitch that spinner deep under an overhanging tree, situated above a perfect rifle with depth. whammo, fish on for a about 5 seconds and off, just long enough on the hook to let me know it was a decently sizable fish. dozen of repeated attempts later and releasing only a couple 8" cutts, made me realize i had to let the water rest, i waded just down stream to another shaded run. several casts there produces absolutely nothing. satisfied that i killed 20 minutes affectively, i headed back to that perfect run under the tree. a few casts later, and whamm !! this time a solid hook set, and the battle ensue, inittally i thought ohh god this thing is going to break me off.(using a 2-8lb recomendation rod with 8 lb test in moderate to fast current) i set my drag, right as the fish decided to make a real screaming run, then it jumped a couple times, and right then i knew this wasnt a bull i was fighting. after another minute or so, i pulled in an exhausted and bleeding. 16" resident rainbow trout, bonked, knowing it wouldnt survive being released. the fish was hooked pretty deep surprisingly, clearly it wanted that spinner really bad. i cut the gills of the fish, and bled it out in the river, looking it in the eye as it passed away. thanking it for giving its life to sustain me.
i made a couple more casts at the run with nothing to show for it and packed up and left right about 7:00pm. just need to mention this stretch of river is not under hoot owl restriction, i am aware of the restrictions and do happily oblige the rules. el rio notello is unrestricted and is cooler and not as low as many of the other rivers in the area.

---