A Lovely Little Fourth

Kim and I went up high for a picnic with a few friends.

There was a stream nearby that I hadn't fished before, so after eating I set out to explore.

It's a sweet stretch with lots of deep runs and holes.

And the Redbands were there. Columbia River Redband Trout, wild natives of this land. They were swimming free here for thousands of years before 1776.

I kept going farther and farther upstream, discovering new delights all along the way.

On the way back I stopped and watched a fish holding in the slack water in front of this stone.

I went for him. He would rise to my bead head leech, but he wouldn't take. I tried two more sub-surface flies, with no luck. So I tied on a little elk hair caddis and set it down to float over his head. He quickly rose and took it in. Redband on a dry.

Two more would come to the little caddis before it was time for me to head back.

We said our farewells and drove down the mountain. Some Bighorn ewes and lambs were wandering through the historic gold mining town at the base of the mountains.

At home I relaxed for awhile, then drove down the road to a nearby town for fireworks. There is always a big fiesta there on the Fourth, with stands selling trinkets and Mexican food...

...people setting off their own fireworks...

...and the grand finale of fireworks over the Columbia River. It was a lovely way to end a lovely little Fourth.