Strawberry Days

More rounds at Strawberry. Took Gary Gygi and Anton Stauffer to Renegade point on 11/4. High pressure in place but full moon still affecting fish. It was a clear night so the fish were up within a few feet of the surface aggresively feeding until about 830 am (the tailing end of a full moon feeding frenzy?). I accidentally had my 7 sink instead of 3 on so I missed much of the action up top. Clear camo would have been better. Anton was fishing a 3 and was into fish sooner. However I still had a number of hookups with my pinky and the brain rig. Cast to one rise and caught a double. Many fish rising. Then Gary showed up with the big pontoon rig he rented for a few hundred bucks and we headed off to the narrows. By this time the fish were shutting down because of the full moon. We had many follows but the fish were obviously shy. Seems to me that when fish are not aggresively feeding they will be shy of brighter colors like white and pink and larger flies in general. So next time fishing a full moon or low pressure it would be best to try more natural sizes and colors and retrieve slower. We putted over to Strawberry Bay for one last effort but alas the fish were just off. Anton did get some half hearted strikes from some fish near the bank (in broad daylight no less, suprised the fish stayed that close to the bank that late in the day) Other anglers reported the fishing to be sucky. Water temp in low 40s

Strawberry River with Todd and 11/7. Would have fished the lake but low pressure moving in. Started at the section in town around 8 am. Definately fewer and smaller fish in there than ever before. Flow about 140 and fairly murky. Prince nymph and pheasant tail did the damage. Then to the upper portion. A few cars there. Water much more clear. Still very weedy. Spotted a few very large spawning browns. Water temp about 42. Larger flies were still more effective than the #20 glass bead midge I usually use there. Other anglers reported poor success. I think all of the pressure from guides and others have pushed many of the fish into the indian section.

Back to Strawberry on 11/10. Meant to leave at 4 to chase big fish at dawn but slept in. Started at Haws Point at 8. Dead. High pressure and no moon problems but there was no wind so I think the sun put them down. Nobody else catching fish. Hopped over to Renegade where I knew alot of fish were and at least I hooked some there using 5 sink and pink brain flies. Nobody else doing anything there either. Makes me wonder how good it would have been in the early morning. Probably quite good. Water temp about 41.

Tried the Strawberry River just above Starvation on 11/13 for a few hours in the evening. Cattle have ravaged the portion nearest to the lake. No fish caught. The water closer to the bridge looks better and Devin says he knows people who catch nice brows from there.

Dawn Patrol at Haw's Point with Braden on 11/20. About 4 degrees that morning. Suprisingly, not many fish near the bank, but many seen rising about 30 feet out. Moon and pressure were ideal but the fish just weren't shallow there.....