Guide season got underway a little bit early this season, and at a new location. Although we have had rights to the Blue River for a couple seasons now, I have yet to take a client up there. The Blue is still relatively new water to me. I have fished it about a half dozen times in the past 4-5 years, with a fair amount of success. So when I received the call that I would be taking a client up there for my first trip of the season, I was pretty excited.
Upon our arrival at 7:00 a.m., the temp was -3 degrees. That was definitely helping the amount of traffic as we were the only ones there. I suggested a quick trip to the local Bucks Coffee shop and then we got to it. I explained to my client that the takes would be light, and sure to turn on soon with the sun coming over the dam and warming things up. After getting into place at the bottom of the Gaging Station, we hunkered down and started throwing line. The gentlemen above me was starting to have luck and I eventually had to net one of his 5 pound fish for him. I asked what he was using (which I hardly ever do but was damn curious as he was having great luck) and it was the exact same as us...mysis. That really motivated my client, seeing that fish.
I decided to start tying on a new rig with the same bugs onto the second rod and right then I heard those words a guide loves so much, especially the first time of year in a new location that can be somewhat daunting sometimes.
"I got one". Jay exerted.
Before I could even start to direct him, he lost it. I stressed again that we are just going to let the fish do what it wants to. We are not pulling it. The goal is to use the butt end of the rod and the reel to help us I explained.
I stopped rigging and prepared for trout on. Sure enough, within minutes we had our second one on. I slowly talked him through it, this time being slightly easier than the prior as he was not as big.
I told him to let him take that one more run and the n we would have him. And we did have him. A beautiful 16" rainbow. My client couldn't have been any happier. I told him to get one of those big guys now. I made the slightest depth adjustment and again, within minutes, my good listening client obliged.
That indicator went down so quick that I knew what had just happened. I told him loudly and firmly, "Get that fish on the reel right now"! We had a monster. Jay did a great job of letting that rod and reel work for him. I told him in the midst of the fight that he had caught one like the guy above us earlier. I could see that look in his eyes. I continued to help him fight the fish, which was now on the other side of the river and upstream about 25 yards. He was heading to the current and I knew if he didn't get him out of there he was in trouble. i calmly told him to "work him downstream with your rod and reel". He started to do just as I told when suddenly, nothing.
I started laughing. But in a good way. "That was awesome!" I shouted. I gave him a huge high five, much to his dismay. I had to explain that "sometimes that happens my man" and that "the tug is the drug". It took him a minute but he got excited then.
"That was pretty cool" he said. "My arm was shaking".
I went onto explain what he did wrong for learning purposes but again stressed that this was far from failure. It was actually very very close to success.
"It ain't easy" I exclaimed. "But it sure is fun failing".
We ended up fishing for another hour or so before we went for a beer break at the truck. I could see that he was just stoked at losing that monster. Truth be told, it was probably the biggest fish I have gotten into up there minus the one that bull dogged me earlier this winter. That fact alone made me so proud as a guide. This is new water to me. I still have to use my brain when I go there. It's not like a Glacier or Boulder Creek to me yet. It's big water, it's a little intimidating and that fish put me on a different level as an angler and a guide. What a feeling.
We spent the last two hours down by 70 and the bugs were starting to come out as the rises were becoming more and more frequent. We ended up getting several bites on some BWO dries, emergers and midges, but we couldn't quite set that hook fast enough. It was a rush though as my client got to sight fish for 20"+ fish with a dry and catch them with nymphs and feel that burn.
Come 2:00, we called it a day. Jay had a great time. What a great first trip. As we de-waded in the lot we had 3 other fisherman pass by. All of them had the same story; no fish. I explained to Jay that I never like to see people not catch fish but went onto say that as I guide, if I can bring my client up into waters and then watch just about every other guy strike out, while my client is hooking up; that is a mission success. I felt like I had done my job well, on new water, with an absolute beginner in technical waters on a day when if you didn't know, you didn't catch.
First trip of the season...Good first trip. First guide trip to the Blue...Good first trip to the Blue.
Gonna be a hell of a season. Stay tuned.
Tight Lines-
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