Williams Fork - Where Have All The Rainbows Gone? 26May20

With the weather passed and the Williams Fk flows holding @ ~200cfs, I headed to Grand Co after the long weekend. My last two outings here have been weaker and more crowded than I ever recall. Today I was just the 3rd car, so that's better. It was a decent mid-50s day and no mosquitoes yet - but also not much other bug-sign except an occasional BWO or midge. Again I caught a couple of ~17" browns, one on Don Juan 2Tone Squiggly worm and one on #22 olive KF Flasher midge. But in spring on this tailwater I have often in the past caught a number of strong rainbows and cutbows up from the Colorado spawning, or holding over in the Bill's Fork. All season thus far I've seen none of these larger fish - something has change but I do not know what. The bottom does seem yuckier this year, and I've observed no redds here, but who knows? I finally did catch an 18" rainbow lady today but she was thin and likely not a participant in any spawn - kind of and ugly lass. Hmmm. I caught her in a decent hole (on the worm) I usually deem my turn-around point but today I headed further upstream... it is more rugged and didn't yield anything new except for this good view downstream from above as I finally did turn-around and take the high road.

I found yet another nice ghost net while fishing in Colorado - this is my 3rd. My good friends Steve and Rob have been beneficiaries of the last two, but who now? I tucked it in my guide belt loop behind my real net but when dispatching, it came along out and buggered up the first landing attempt on the 'bow. Sheesh... I did land the bow with it ultimately and I did get it back to the car. The wildflowers are starting in earnest in Grand Co and the WFk valley is attracting moose!