Time: 5:00pm
Air Temp: 50°F
Wind: Calm
Weather: Clear
Daylight: 24 hours
Today felt like the first
day of summer, and it came early. It has been warm enough that the rivers
are breaking up, but not so warm as to produce a large amount of runoff
into the rivers. On this first day that Nome hit the 50 degree mark, I
set up my fly rod and headed out to look for some Dolly’s.
Spring Dolly fishing is
some of the best fun you can have on the water with a fly rod. It’s
really a sight when they whip into a feeding frenzy, eating salmon fry as
they move down river. Watching the wake their body makes as it attacks a
fry fly just below the surface. Predators.
On this day, I was
anxious to get out and do some casting and enjoy some time on the river.
There were still ice chunks floating down the stream, but there was a lot
of open water, and due to the relatively cool days past, the lack of
runoff left the river startling clear for this time of the season. My
favorite spring spot was too slow and shallow to hold any fish.
I got in the water any
way and began to work my way downstream, content to be throwing the line
again. I noted the water conditions as I moved; to shallow here, to fast
there, to many riffles over there. Finally I made it to a wide, deep area
that necked down at the base. The river was
essentially pinched down to about half its norma
l
width, and had the depth and flow I had been looking for. I held my
position for several minutes, and out of nowhere, a
ripple appeared downstream as a dolly gently broke the surface. As
quickly as I could, I cast my fry imitation toward the bank. As
it swung back into the mainstream, just above the ripple produced by the
feeding fish, I felt a hit on the line!
The first dolly of the
season was a beauty at 22 inches long, and though her belly only held a
couple pink salmon fry, she was hefty and well-proportioned. The one fish
was enough for me on my first day on the water. It was great to get the
equipment out again and get warmed up for another season. As they say on
the fishing report, “Good luck, and good fishing”!
BR
