FLY FISHING CONTINUED
The best place to do this are at the head of the hatch , where there are salmonflies galore in the air but no fish taking them . Why ? The action , or the best part of it , is all under the surface . Just recently guide Chad Williams reported that the “ boat horde ” that attacks a small section of local river annually was out in force , but not scoring all that well on the surface .
When you wade , keep your feet shoulder-width apart and shuffle along , sideways to the current . Pick your way around and below bigger rocks – don ’ t step on top of them . Don ’ t go in beyond the point where you can easily turn upstream into the current to wade back out .
Wade safe – avoid swift currents .
The best safety advice for the wading angler is this : Be chicken . Chickens don ’ t drown .
FATHERS DAY TRIBUTE CONTINUED : Suddenly , fresh elk tracks appeared and they seemed to travel along the ridge just as we expected . There seemed to be a lot of sign and we knew the elk were close . We had hunted this area enough to know that the elk fed the early morning near the edge of the timber in the small parks along the ridge . It was still early and we knew one of us would jump elk and that our chances were better if we split up near the top . As we motioned silently to one another I felt my heart start to pound and I realized more the meaning of our bet . I had to succeed because I knew Hal would be hunting and walking his heart out . In previous years both Hal and Lance had taken elk , not big bulls , but at least they had put meat on the table . I now looked carefully at the more fresh tracks and saw where on elk had separated from the main herd . The tracks were large and rounded like those of a bull , and
fresh enough that the smell of elk clung to the trees . I tried to hurry and yet be quiet as a mouse , checking the wind and keeping my eyes moving constantly . I heard noise ahead and thought I saw the creamy colored body deep in the thick fir trees . Suddenly a loud gunshot and my heart sank . I ran ahead and all I could hear was the cracking of timber and the strong smell of a bull elk . Then I turned and headed toward the gun ' s report . It seemed so close , within 50 yards I guessed . Then another shot and I heard Hal yell . I knew he had gotten a bull and I had just missed again . Hal was standing on a knoll directly across from me , not 30 yards , and was filled with excitement . " I just shot a five point ," he exclaimed . " I can ' t believe it !" " I stopped on this side of this hill to sit and do my duty and then after I was done , I walked only about 10 yards and peered over this hill and there he was ." " I don ' t know why he didn ' t smell me !" " He was feeding with his head down and I couldn ' t see his horns for a minute or two ." " I just froze ," he said , " and waited for him to raise his head . When I saw the horns I let him have it ! He ' s a beauty , come see ."
As we walked down the hill along the rise the sun shown brightly on the light colored side of the elk , and his horns glistened as steam raised from his nostrils and mouth . " He tried to get up , so I shot twice ," Hal said . Continued on page 30 .
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