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The midday sun was gone behind the riverside cottonwood trees. It was late July, and we needed some rain, and cooler temperatures. We had not had a good rain in three or four weeks. The clouds had rolled in again, teasing the much-needed precipitation. My hope was that I could make my way up the main channel of the Snake River before the rain. The valley really needs some rain to bring down temperatures. I was equipped to deal with the rain if it came.
The destination was a trough on the west side of the river, that had a root ball from a fallen tree. There was a stiff current, and it was possible that the current was too much for Cutthroat Trout to comfortably hold in. I had barely noticed this hole above another channel I had fished the week before. The other channel produces some of the biggest catches of the summer on the Snake River.
One always approaches such targets from below, or downstream. This is logical, as the fish are looking upstream for food (bugs) on the water. They clearly can’t see behind themselves, so downstream approaches are strategic. This target was tricky for a couple of reasons. First, the current was very heavy. The current release from Jackson Lake dam was 1800 CSF (cubic feet per second), making the flows at the spot 2200 CFS or more. This made even walking in the current challenging. Then add casting a fly that weighs almost nothing 15-20 yards into a slot from the center of the thread (one piece of the river) of the Snake River. In my football days, we called it a “Hail Mary”. Maybe it’s not quite that difficult, but you get the drift (pun intended).
The wind was picking up. The current heavier than I expected. I fished as I waded up the channel, catching some nice trout. There weren't any memorable fish. I caught 4-5 nice 12–15-inch Cutties. The current was a bit scary. I was only a few meters from the target. I really did not know if there were any fish at the target. There was just a feeling, a sense that this looks like habitat for a large Cutthroat.
It has been 15 years sense I began stalking these beautiful fish. My skills have been sharpened by time, experience, and disappointment. These are the moments I crave.
The position has been determined. The current is much harder than I anticipated. I make a couple of casts but fail to really get into the target zone. I catch a couple of smaller trout. My casts are more erratic than usual due to the wind, which has become gusty with the approaching thunderstorm. My feet are solid. It is not a long cast, probably 15 yards, let the current take the fly right into the zone.
Bam! A huge trout eats the fly. I set the hook, the line tightens, I got him!!
The challenge now is getting him to the net in this heavy current. He is downstream of me. This is not good as that adds additional pressure on the line, and he is a big boy! I manage to get him to the net. I want a picture of this beautiful fish. It is 20 meters to where I can stand comfortably. I drag him in the water, in the net. He is fine, a little angry.
The rest of the story. I became concerned about releasing him, I did not want to compromise the health of this beautiful fish. The pictures I took were not good. I released him, he swam away. Healthy.
There will be a rematch. I want the picture of that beautiful native Cutthroat trout. I have the moment in my mind…
The markets. A client called after the last blog and commended me on the fabulous analogy for life and the markets. I said, “I was just writing about fishin’”. It is fascinating how one relates to the other.
The current market looks like the challenging current of the Snake River. Be careful where you step. It is slippery. Take your time, be sure your footing is solid. There will be opportunities. Patience. The moment will be here before you know it.
P.S. Every couple of years I name one of the fish I catch. These big fish are often resident fish that remain in the same area for an entire season. This guy has been named “Wheezer”. “Wheezer” is the nickname of a dear friend of mine, who got married this summer. I hope to see him on the water casting to his namesake. Congratulations “Wheezer”!
Enjoy the day...R2
This is not a specific recommendation. Each individual needs to consult their financial advisor, for specific recommendations. Your financial advisor knows your situation, and risk tolerance. They are best suited to make individual recommendations for you.
