After driving a couple of hours I finally made it to the above information sign for fishing, in part, for the West Fork of the Duchesne River. Several rain bursts threatened the day during the drive. I guessed that I was supposed to go up the dirt road adjacent to this sign, so I headed out. After 2 miles (thinking it was 4), I turned around and headed back to sign because no access areas were found (turning around is a common thread for me on this trip). Fortunately another fisherman was returning to his car by the sign, and I asked him where the West Fork was. He stated that I just had to go up the road. I told him I turned around after 4 miles. He replied that I had to go at least six, so I did, and found the sign below.
Across the road from the sign above was a road leading down to fishable water, blocked for cars but not foot traffic. I took my gear with me, along with my hiking staff / chair, down to the river. As always, there was a fishy looking spot as soon as I got to the river.
There just had to be a fish in the middle of the pool-like area. I flipped a mini-hopper just below the white water at the top of the photo and allowed the hopper to flow along the current through the pool. On about the 5th or 6th drift, the king/queen of the pool attacked the hopper and got hooked. He or She was too strong, putting a big bend into my 3-weight rod, and eventually the fish set itself free. The pool was dead after that so I tried the next spot downstream.
I tried to drift a hopper under the trees on the left, with no effect. After 10-15 minutes I thought that maybe another fish took over the prime spot above with the King/Queen of the pond probably sulking. I put on an Elk Hair Caddis and floated it through the pool and BAM!, a smaller fish hooked itself and made it into my net. The casualty was that I shifted my weight in the chair, the chair slid deeper into the grass, the legs of the chair torqued and broke, and I got thrown backwards landing on my back and slamming my head, thankfully into grass. Somehow, I survived, took care of the fish and photos, and released it back to enjoy life as the number 2 in the pool.
A long drive back towards Salt Lake City and another night in a Pilot Flying J Truck Stop. Remember, other places serve pizza…..they Make pizza. Another great day with success after only fishing two places.
Tight Lines!