Dan, how did you contact Mark? I've left a couple of messages for him, with no return call . . .
Richard ----- Original Message ----- From: "Dan Maul" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2002 12:38 PM Subject: Yakima report from 5/24 (it was outstanding!) > I took a client to the Yak last Friday and fished with Mark Shimazu - a guide that > I have used since about the time Tim Irish left. A looooong day from Ringer to the > Slab but it was fast n furious most of the day. On the river at 10:30 and pulled > out about 8:30. The water levels had jumped early in the week but settled back a > bit. The weather was as close to perfect as it's ever been - sunny, warm, > occasional high wispy clouds (tho not enough to get a real PMD hatch going) and NO > WIND!! We nymphed the first few hours with Prince nymphs & a variety of hare's ear > under indicators and managed to dredge up 8-10 fish between us in the 11"-14" > range. Mid-day (and well down from Wilson Cr which was puking mud and sediment), > the action moved to the surface. We were able to cast 16# Elk Hair Caddis > patterns (occasionally with an emerger as a dropper) to feeding fish most of the > rest of the trip. There were plenty of caddis flying low up the river and we were > told that most of them were egg layers, not hatching (which began in earnest later > in the afternoon). We only saw two other boats on the river all day, a couple of > bank anglers and a group of coeds. Classic Yakima rainbow fishin' !!! > > The action was pretty consistent throughout the day and the lower river really > turned on later in the afternoon - off the grass banks and wild Iris. MY favorite > was -- and will always be -- taking turns spotting a feeding fish, marking it, > drifting down on him, anchoring up and trying to plan the cast. Of course, JUST > as you get ready to lay one out, another (bigger) fish starts in nearby in a spot > that you need to go to first so as not to put the first one down. And it's a > tougher angle with overhanging brush, the bad side of a rock or back in a tiny > hole with no way to get much of a drift. Managing to actually MAKE the cast only > to watch it pass over untouched. Doubting that you can get that lucky again, doing > it and in the middle of your amazement, he takes it!! The yelpin' and shouting > advice, getting it on the reel, keeping the rod tip up, not working it too hard, > letting it take a little line, all while trying to keep an eye on that other one > that's still rising. And finally landing an incredible 15" Yakima rainbow. When > your partner gets the other one, you KNOW you're having a good day. We did this > all day long, 40+ fish, all 12"-17", bright, chunky and feisty. > > The campgrounds were all full so I am sure the weekend was crazy. Y'all probably > know that Red's has changed hands tho we didn't stop to visit. Supposedly there > are a few rooms there to rent now? Be really careful to maintain 45 mph on the > road, they are very strict and keeping a careful watch. > >
