Wapiti with an Arrow: Weekend on the Northfork

I went to the Northfork of the Clearwater / Kelly Creek this past weekend. Since I worked two seasons there, it again brought back a flood of memories. Passing the trailhead to Bear Butte I remembered my first IC assignment...the helicopter dropped us off at someone's bear-baiting site and the area was covered in huckleberries as big as your thumb! Remembered messing around with a kayak, dropping each other off of overhanging rocks into deep pools. Fishing, hiking, playing with saws, sleeping in the dirt, the thrill of a lightening storm. In 2000 it got so busy, we'd get off the helicopter and shower. They had a cook come in, so we ate and ate...then got back on the ship and went to the next fire. That was a perfect month.

BUT, this time, I was there to fish and relax. Which I did. Got over there about 5 o'clock on Friday night since I took Friday off and had to still get stuff ready to go. Third cast on a little hole out of camp landing me a fun little cutthroat. I was amazed at all the salmon! Didn't really think that they are spawning now. Well, they are...and they were everywhere! It was fun to sit and watch them despite how you truly can't capture them on film. I woke up Saturday morning, leaned out the tent, and checked on the river...could see them from there! Talk about ideal.

So I made some coffee out of Clearwater water (none better...unless you're on the Lochsa) and set out to fish. Found secluded holes that must get overlooked because I caught some dandy trout and a lot of them. Spotted a monster in a clear stretch and when I sent the fly his way he mosied off...I could almost see him roll his eyes. Another little guy (about 10 inches) was feeding next to a salmon and it looked annoying, so I figured I'd help the salmon out. Put the fly RIGHT where it needed to be and that little guy came flying out of the water for it. As we struggled, the salmon just looked at him like, "WHAT is wrong with you? Keep it down man." There was another, probably a 16 inch cutthroat that had a "long release." But the way he came into the fly was like a stealth...slow, big, silent...then you could almost see him think, "looks alright. Hmmm, ok." Bad idea.

Poked around doing that the rest of the day and then about two o'clock it decided to really close in and try and rain. I made a little wood run and found bits and pieces that people had left behind. Dropped that off at camp and putzed around for a bit. But then I got bored and didn't really want to fish, so I made a trip to Mush saddle. I saw a cow moose in a pond looking just like Eor. Almost in over her shoulders, munching on the vegetation on the bottom, when she picked her head up out of the water her ears were laid back and dripping. Looked sad and content all at the same time.

Reminiscing yet again on my drive out of the valley. That was nice...all the leaves turning color, drawing up old memories, and the absolute LACK of anyone else was comforting. I made it back to camp and started a hurried fire, the wind was blowing like it does before it decides to dump a bunch of rain on you. The Ponderosa needles were raining and I got a tarp up just in time for the rainstorm. It didn't stop all night. So I hunkered. But I did go out fishing a bit and found it to be rather productive. The rain must make bugs hit the water more and see your line less.

Got kind of irritated this morning with the rain STILL coming down and no respite in sight, so I packed up camp and was on the road at 0830. Home 1230. Again, another 4 hour drive...but worth it for some time with my thoughts.