4-07-05 - FAT works the deeper pool below the shelf.

Exactly how deep is that pool Rich?

FAT hooks up!

We nicknamed him "Patch" for the matching patches of white flesh exposed on his back.

Your latest weir numbers!

4-07-05 - Another "Pre Fish" with the FATMAN!

Waters Fished: Root River
Fish Caught: 0/1 personally
Outing Date: 4-07-05
Weather: Sunny
Air Temp: Mild - 60s
Water Temp: 52F
Water Level: 250 CFS and rising
Water Color: vis about 4-6"
Fish Species: Steelhead
Pattern Fished: Egg Patterns
Pattern Color: Chartreuse mostly
Fishing Quality: Pretty good all thing considered.

This report literally covers the span of about an hour. Somehow Rich Brown got out of work early and well, all I had to do was go teach at CLC at 7:00 PM. We had a large group guide in the morning and wanted to see how things were going.

It didn't take much prodding - I headed out to meet up with FAT at Quarry Park on the Root. FAT had already fished the dam area, hooked a fish and lost it. Overall, he wasn't very satisfied with the experience at Horlick, thus the switch to Quarry.

We covered the water - flies had to be large as the water was truly muddy. At the tailout of a flat, I briefly connected with a fish...one head shake and it was gone. It was also approaching the time I'd have to leave if I was to get to school on time!

FAT and I headed back upstream. It was pretty much time to call it when I literally STUMBLED onto a pod of fish redding right at the shore at the head of a riffle. 3 out of the 4 fish instantly shot downstream...there, a yard in in front of me, remained 1 dark buck.

I'd had my fair shake...while I could've easily landed this fish I figured it was the least I could do to repay Rich for all his instruction and encouragement over the last 2+ years. I instructed Rich to get upstream from me. From where I stood, I could see the fish and knew EXACTLY where Rich would need to cast. Meanwhile, Rich was fishing blind...this would be a team effort.

It paid off with a huge lunge and the fight was on. We landed the fish, a truly DARK buck, but a steelhead all the same. I may have written it before but I'll write it again...all I need is a one fish day and it's a GOOD DAY.

  MP