but sized to the stream. Three more of his
brethren fell victim to the same approach
until the jig was up, and there were no
more takers.
With all the inviting water stretching
out before us, it was decided to divide
and conquer. This was followed by an
agreement that, if either of us was to find
an overabundance, we were to let the other
know so they could partake. I ventured
upstream to a picturesque run tailored to
a wet fly swing. Before I could work the
head of the line out, I had already hooked 2
10”ers, and by the end of the run countless
more grabs and takes, but nothing pushing
more than 12”. While I paused for a leader
check and a quick CLIF bar, I heard “you
better get down here.”
I rounded the bend to see a smile, a bent
rod, and dancing trout. “Wow, nice take,” I
exclaimed as the fiberglass rod bent nicely
to protect the 5x tippet. Keith landed and
released the fish and sat down to take a
break while informing me of the density of
fish he’d encountered. “You’d better get in
there now, because when I get up, you’re
going to have some solid competition.”
I swung the double wet rig through the
head of the run and caught another 10”
fish. After releasing it, I quickly tangled
into a low hanging branch. After tearing off
my flies, I pulled out my tin to see a little
smolt pattern stuck in my wader pocket.
The game had officially changed: the 3wt
“glass switch” was burning pinpoint
single speys in search of a more
carnivorous prey.
The beauty of the Echo’s baby glass, two
handed rods is how much it feels like a
true “Spey” rod. At first, I thought it was
just another gimmick, but after today, I
realize how much of an effective tool and
joy they are to fish. Even little fish are fun
to catch and 16”ers are a blast. The Airflo
Switch Float is beautiful line to present
a fly with—it turns up to size 8 buggers
over well, but really excels swinging soft
hackles, winged wets and caddis pupa. I love
throwing single Speys, and I snake roll cast
whenever I can, and the switch float loves
those casts.
It wasn’t long before the little smolt pattern
locked the lips of a 14” resident rainbow
with a shock. The little glass rod lit up with
a surge, as the fish jumped about in its new
predicament. Once landed and released,
Keith and I both commented on how well the
glass rods cast and fish like the big sticks
which rule the fall. My glass rod has become
the perfect fishable companion used for
everything short of a size 14 dry fly, but heck
I might have to give it a shot one day.
We eased down the rest of the run trading
fish, the most effective method still being
Keith’s Wonder Hopper on the twitched over
slick, deep water. Every once in a while, he’d
leave one for me to pick up on the swing.
Stop by the shop for a cup of hot Bluestar
coffee, and if you hang in there long enough,
you might be lucky enough to get the recipe
and a sample of the amazing bug that
worked so well for your next hopper trip up
the Methow.
All the Best, Luke