'scuse me while I fish the Sky

Brian convinced me to post a report for all the snowbound east coasters. Had been planning all week to float the Sky with a fishing buddy. Water was <b> real low </b> and <b> real clear</b> but we had hope. A good friend and a buddy of his were scheduled to fish up on the Skagit but Saturday night called me and asked if I would mind if they floated the Sky as well. I told them it was a big river and I certainly didn't own it so they were welcome to tag along.

Steve and I met at the appointed hour and the other two: Dave and John were nowhere to be found. We launched the Sprite and headed down the river. After fishing Two Bit, Eagles Nest, the backside of the big Island, Dave and John show up. They took the south bank of the run across from the bar above IRS while Steve and I fished down the long bar. As we neared the bottom, a gear chucker wades over and starts throwing bait in the tailout right below us so we headed for Jack Daniels. Up until this point noone had seen hide nor scale of a fish.

I started in at the head with Steve following me through. Dave and John had a bite to eat then Dave rowed over to hit IRS and John started in behind Steve. Five minutes later, John has FISH ON. It wasn't a very fair fight as his #10 GL3 made short work of a lethargic hatchery brat. We all shook his hand and headed back to the water with renewed confidence. I had made no more than a half dozen casts when, John again has FISH ON! This time the long rod has a good bend in it and you can tell it wasn't a brat. Just when it looked like it was going to come to hand, the hook pulled free. Steve and I just looked at each other in amazement. We had both fished through that water without so much as a bump and he nails two!!!

Steve and stopped to have lunch while Dave and John leap-frogged us and headed down river. As we floated (or should I say oared) through Ben Howard, Dave comes on the walkie talkie to tell us he had just hooked into a bright fish. He got it right up to the shallow water and the hooked pulled free. Steve and I went fishless for the day.

The moral of the story is next time someone asks if they can float along with you ..... Just kidding. I was jacked for both of them and was just happy to know there were fish around and they were hanging in the fly water. I fished the rest of the day with confidence that on the very next cast, it would happen. It didn't but I am working late this week a couple of nights so I think there might be a couple early morning river trips.