Made another day trip (wake up at 4:30, on the river by 8, back in the car by 5) up to the Middle Fork of the Stanislaus. Last time I fished the North Fork.
I particularly like the Middle Fork because it is such as classic small stream with really defined characteristics (textbook drop down pools, easy to read seams and runs, etc). I enjoy fishing a stream that is really easy to read from time to time.
Fishing was decent, not great. Caught about 8 fish though I did not hang around for the evening bite which seemed to be starting as I packed up (had to get home for dinner). Most were in the 8 - 10 inch range with a couple in the 12 - 14 range. All bows, with the majority being wild. Generic flies were working - orange stimulators, hoppers, copper johns, etc.
The excitement for the day was provided by a bear up a tree. I noticed a lot of noise and debris falling down behind me and when I investigated, a bear was up a tree making a racket. I did not wait around to see exactly what he or she was doing up there - it may just be a black bear, but I still played it safe and decided to move on quickly....
Nice day - much cooler than I anticipated so it was very pleasant - not too hot.
Thanks. I have had more days fishing this year than usual because I recently left my corporate job and have been consulting, which has left my schedule more flexible (unfortunately this situation is due to end as I am debating between 2 permanent jobs right now). The bottom line is my wife is very understanding of my dual addictions (fly fishing in the summer and falconry in the winter) so I try to make it home quickly for things like dinner. (Of course she could secretly be enjoying me being away so much!)
I like bears, but there are limits. A buddy of mine who is a field biologist took me to one of his hidden canyons on the Yuba last year and there were so many bears and bear sign I never really did get that comfortable in that canyon!
