Cutties on the Ashlu

Being the July long weekend it probably really is the first real long weekend of summer as schools are all out and the long migrations to summer holidays really gets underway.  We were lucky to have a quiet weekend with some time to get away for a day of fishing and exploring.

The weather was forecast to be sunny with cloudy periods but as we neared Squamish it looked more than threatening with some dark clouds over the valley.  The freshet plume of the river was turning Howe Sound a pale green all the way to Porteau Cove and we knew having checked the hydrograph that the water would be up and muddy.  However, we had fished this system in early July over the years and that's when you look for the clear or clearish  tributaries.   They may contain fish as do the clearer plumes they create in the muddy Squamish.  Today we decided to explore the Ashlu with some new bright streamer flies to see if we could roust anything from the murky shallows.  The Ashlu was up but had the perfect tinge of green that would allow about 3 to 4 feet of fish eye visibility.

My first pool did not produce and I have to admit I wasn't expecting too much either  but it felt good to stretch the line on the water.  I headed down to the next pool and Gabe bushwacked to the other side.  I was tight against the brush but managed to step in deep enough to get a roll cast and send the weighted minnow pattern into mid stream.  After adjusting the mend a few times it looked like the second hole would be a blank as well when the line seemed to hang up on the bottom.  It didn't hang too long as it suddenly began to race first upstream and then down towards some large rocks.  I tried hard to steer the fish away and get it back into the pool and had just succeeded when my 8 wt rod bent really hard.  I was hoping to get it to the surface but the fish was in charge here.  A few more rushes and I could feel the headshake and roll and then it was gone........it was either a really big bull or one of the first summer run Steelheads......exactly which one I will unfortunately never know.

With the higher water, some of the pools and wading were a bit precarious but we persevered and the rods bent a few more times.  Gabe decided to go with a gaudy bright green steelhead pattern and he finally connected with a very photogenic cutthroat which actually paused long enough to get some good pictures before the camera battery died.  Too bad as some more pictures would have added to the essence of the day.

Salmon rumour are abounding and reports of summer Steelhead making it to the hatchery in the Chehalis suggest that getting out and starting to fish the downside of the freshet could be rewarding.

Tight Lines!