Had an old friend and co-worker (when I worked) Ralph Bailey with me yesterday on the Upper for the last day of trout season until the end of May.  Ralph was my best source of motivation and knowledge of the steelhead fly fishing when we moved back to the Medford area about seven years ago.  He is one of the most consistent and effective fly flingers I know (and a good friend).  We’ve made several trips to Foster Bar, the McCloud, the Klamath and the local lakes.

The day was relatively warm and dry, especially after the Winter onslaught of rain and snow last Friday (that’s another story).  The water temp was still 40 degrees, the flows were high and visibility was good for rising trout (I’m starting to detect a theme here).  There was a strong hatch of dark, light, small and large March Brown Mayflies.  Sometimes rafts of eight or ten adults floating in the eddies.  Blue wing olives were there in lesser numbers and even a few Caddis got in on the act.  The swallows were thick after the flying insects and there was only us and a brownish beat-up old Clack with an old bearded fart (David Roberts) running the oars.  Bamboo branches were sticking out of the boat and he had a friend with him.  Other than that we had the river to ourselves.     

Thanks Ralph, for joining me.  I had a great day, and not just because it was the very first time I landed more fish than you.