I hadn't fished the Stilly in a year and was glad to see it much clearer yesturday. However the water was low and promised wary fish. I carefully fished all the pools down from the bridge without a sign of fish for a mile. Then I came upon a really good looking pool with the water gently riffled and waist deep on one side. A welcome 14 inch cutt nipped at my fly before the real take three casts later. After several casts and steps down the pool a dolly of like size also obliged. I waded out of the tail and wandered downstream for thirty minutes, hoping to find a path to the road and my jeep. Nothing. I slowly retraced my steps upstream and decided to give the previous pool another try. Half way through a really heavy cutt took the fly, putting a really respectable bend in my 7 weight. The old wisdom of getting the smaller fish out of the way to catch the big one seemed still true. In the trees beyond the pool I happily saw a path that eventually led to my road. It involved climbing over one fence, with a sign which was readable after jumping over, which read "WHAT PART OF THE WORDS NO TRESSPASSING CAN'T YOU UNDERSTAND". I was amused and walked to lunch. Bruce Whidbey
