We headed up the Middle fork of the Boise River last Saturday to get in some good fly fishing. The day was great, sunny & warm. Once we got up there we immediately started fishing holes that were open. Of coarse day was kicking my butt on the count, but what can i say, this was only my second time with a fly rod in my hand. We kept working our way up the river. We'd fish a hole and work our way up or down the river, then back to the car and drive to the next spot that looked good. Somewhere about 20 miles up from where we started, we spotted a great stretch of river around a wide sweeping bend, that was a way from the road with just a ton of thick brush and trees. We found a spot up river to get in the water and planned to work our way down around the bend, then walk the road back to the car. We figured that this stretch probably didn't get real heavy fishing given all the brush.
Once we got in we moved down the river, Danny caught a couple, and I finally got a bit. I was excited to finally feel what a bit was like on a fly rod. (pretty much the same, but keeping control of the fly line is a bit different). As we worked our way down we came to a narrow spot in the river that didn't give up many options of where to cross. it was either that or walk back up the river in the water. The water was quick, but didn't seem very deep. So Danny went first (considering I had just fell in up stream trying to retrieve my fly stuck on a tree branch over fast moving water. I was pretty ticked that I got wet, I mean I didn't buy waders for nothing) Anyway Danny started moving through the fast water, and was doing great until that 1 wrong step, then whoosh, there he went down the river. He reacted great which calmed me down quick. he rolled over, belly up and feet out front. then let the water carry him down till it was calm enough to swim out. (And let me tell you, swimming with a fly rod in 1 hand isn't easy.)
So next I thought well, he made through, I'll just move slower and fight the rushing water better. Which I did, right up till I made the same wrong step he did, then Whoosh, there I went. At first I was just pissed, then my waders filled up the instant I rolled over belly up, feet front. That's when I started getting drug down by the weight. I was fighting good, but once I passed where Danny had gotten out, I got nervous, because I was getting out of the current and fighting the added water weight in my waders. By this time I was having difficulty staying head up, so I decided to ditch my rod. I was mad, but it was my life I was thinking of. by this time I was starting to have trouble keeping my head above the water, but now I was able to use both hands to swim. I was trying to kick my legs, but waders full of water and boots on didn't help much at all. I was able to start making progress to the far side of the river. I saw a small tree/bush over hanging in the water, and I started moving over before the current took me past it, and wasn't much to grab onto past that. Keep in mind this is all in a matter of about 4 breast strokes, and low and behold there was my rod hitting me in the head, so I grabbed it with my left hand and reached for the tree/bush branch with my right and just barely got a hold of it, and the current swung me around over to the bank. I was so relieved to have the branch in my hand. Once I calmed down and stopped swearing, I looked over at Danny and he had a scared look that turned into a big grin.
after resting on the branch for a few minutes, I looked around and saw the river got about waist deep about 10 feet down stream. So i edged along and then crossed over to where Danny was. When i got out of the water, my waders were full up to my waist. We got them drained. Pondered our moment of triumph over the river, then kept fishing. It was just after that about 30 yards down stream that I finally caught my first fish, about a 7 in rainbow. I unhooked it, looked it in the eyes and told him to go bring back his momma.
I didn't wear my waders the rest of the day. by that point the water wasn't that cold anymore.
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