Nimrods like me learn not to just show up and fish long stretches of water. Instead I called ahead last week to talk with Cinda, the flyfishing manager at Orvis in Scottsdale. I told her I wouldn't be able to drive the 3-4 hours many fisherman drive to find water up in the mountains. My son will be playing baseball and that's my main attraction.
But she had the perfect solution. Turns out the Arizona fish and wildlife department has just stocked the lower Salt with 3,000 rainbows, plus there are bass in those waters. With temperatures expected to reach into the 80s this week Cinda feels there is a good chance the bass will move in to the shallower water to spawn, plus the trout numbers should still be pretty good.
I am taking waders because the water is supposed to be cold despite the warm air temperatures.
Normally I wouldn't write about a trip until afterward, but preparing for this trip has taught me some new things. I wanted to capture those learnings rather than muddle my later reports with background. I just hope the fishing is more interesting than the preparation to fish.
For starters, I bought a new 6 wt. spool of intermediate line for the bass fishing. I am taking just my 6 wt because it should be just fine for both bass and trout. I'd prefer to have a 4-5 wt for the trout, but if the wind picks up it will be better to have a six. And the six will work just fine for the bass or even the carp if I get into some bottom-feeders.
With the new spool I can easily switch between my floating line for trout and an intermediate line for the bass and other fish I might encounter. I practiced switching the spools today.
For flies I am taking buggers (black and white) for the bass as well as a few surface flies in case they are rising in the heat. For the trout I am told just about anything will work but I will focus initially on Zebra Cidges and Hare's Ear. Cinda said there are some caddis and Blue Winged Olive going off as well. So I packed a pretty good box of flies for all eventualities. I even bought a few expensive carp flies.
Dove at the Orivs here in Bellevue counseled me to twitch and strip and slowly for the bass because it is sight fishing and they are likely spawning. The bass won't take the fly until it's right in their face. First stip they look. Second they move slightly into position and third, STRIKE! At least that's what I'm hoping.
I may also trip Kiwanis Lake in Tempe which is very near my hotel.
Wish me luck. More later.
