1-07-06 - Another quite but "warm" winter day on the Root River.

1-7-06 - Winter Treat - Open water on the Root!

Waters Fished: Root River
Fish Caught: 0
Outing Date: 1-7-06
Weather: Cloudy
Air Temp: Right around 40F
Water Temp: low 30's
Water Level: falling (around 200 cfs)
Water Color: Olive Green, visiblity < 1'
Fish Species: Brown Trout
Pattern Fished: Spawn & Waxworms today!
Pattern Color: N/A

With another week of average daytime temps in the upper 30's, how could I resist the urge of winter steelhead on the Root? The water had crested with rains to around 500 cfs and was now on the decline. Steelies and Browns should be everywhere!

Renee and I met up with Bill H. around 2:00 PM; Bill had some luck in the early afternoon tricking a brown into taking a fly - EXCELLENT. Renee was first to our spot, upon walking up she saw a fish porpoise twice. Good...vey good.

Well, we fished until around 4:30, trying some of the "traditiona;" winter spots without so much as a solid hookup. Perhaps the water was too dirty, perhaps we were fishing the wrong offerings, or perhaps we had just overlooked the denser pods of fish?

It doesn't really matter - there aren't any "freezing" temps in the forecast. Granted, I'm going to be kicking myself for a long time since I didn't get out on Sunday - bright, sunny, mid 40's and fish biting like maniacs. Doesn't matter though, I'll be back after 'em next weekend...there's PLENTY of fishing to be done in 2006!

  MP