Bradzilla Rocks the Rainbows

Brad and I headed to Ellensburg Wednesday night and planned to fish the following two mornings with Shan from Red's Fly Shop, with whom we've fished numerous times.  (Yes, that Shan--see our Alaska Adventures from September 2019 and other previous entries for more details.)  After a short night's sleep we got up to the alarm at 3:45am to get ready, grab some breakfast at McDonald's drive-thru, and meet Shan at Red's Fly Shop for our 4:30am start.

July 2

It started somewhat slowly as we began the canyon float--Brad had to wait until his second cast to hook a fish.  We fished large dry stonefly patterns in the slowly increasing light.  Brad's fly was larger than mine.  Punching it in close to the banks and being rewarded with--my fly floating over the top, apparently appearing like an appetizer, and then Brad's larger fly coming up second and being eaten by the fish.  What's with that?  Front end of the boat usually gets more strikes--which is why Brad took pity on me and let me fish in front.

I finally got a good solid fish and after a nice fight was able to get a photo, then release him.  Brad may be catching more, but I found one that was photo worthy.

A beautiful Yakima River rainbow

Brad didn't wait long until he too found a photo worthy fish that tried to attack his fly as it floated by and missed.  Brad, ever the one of steely nerves, saw that the fish missed and hadn't eaten the fly and just kept the fly floating in the drift along the seam line in the current.  We watched with amazement as the trout circled back around, came downstream and sucked in the fly, at which point Brad set the hook and the chase was on!  

Brad's biggest Yakima rainbow ever
(up to that point)

We added a stonefly dropper as the day brightened and found fish on both the dry and dropper.  We continued to enjoy the beauty of the canyon--lots of eagles, deer, and other assorted wildlife--and found fish throughout.  Finished after floating a few hours and had a great morning!   What would tomorrow bring?

July 3

We arose to a brisk outside temperature of 48 degrees so it was going to start a little cool.  We met again at Red's at 4:30am.  (I don't know if Shan sleeps.)  We were concerned that the low overnight temperatures might slow down fishing if it reduced insect activity.  Brad started with the stonefly dry/dropper setup we'd had yesterday and I had a single dry fly to cast.  Once again, Brad deferred the front position to me, and I tossed the fly toward the shore as we began the float.  It floated all of about 20 feet until it was slurped in by a nice rainbow.  A great start to the day!  

We had pretty steady action on both the dry and the dropper.  If my timestamp is correct on the camera, Brad landed this photo worthy fish at 5:21am.  He looks pretty awake for that time of the morning.

#1 for Brad

Okay, now to just find me another photo worthy fish.  We each caught more rainbows, on both the dry and dropper, with neither fly really prevailing in preferences.  About an hour later, Brad hooked another nice trout.  Into the net and . . . yet another fish for photo.

Yet another

Okay, now to really just find me another photo worthy fish.  We both continued to catch more rainbows, on both the dry and dropper, again with neither fly really predominating.  About ninety minutes later, Brad hooked yet another nice trout.  Into the net and . . . another fish for photo.  I'm sensing a theme here that wasn't what I was expecting. What about the guy in the front getting more fish because they see the fly first?  What about letting the old guy get the nice fish?  Not to be today I guess, but I was happy with the action and pleased to be able to have these two mornings with my son-in-law.

Who's idea was this trip anyway?
Bradzilla rocked the rainbows!

As always, a wonderful guided float with Shan, ever courteous, knowledgeable, and skilled. Great friends, great river, great fish.  Happy Independence Day!