I Waited until the haze burned off then drove to the waters via diamonand through Springville Crossings. I was filled with anticipation due to the reports I had heard.
It had been awhile and I had forgotten how fast the river is here. A tumble in the stream to an old man can mean a broken bone, hypothermia and death before dawn so I was very careful where I stepped in the turbulent water.
I Fished an hour between 1 and 2 without as much as a take. I finally came to the realization that I cannot fish this water without someone accompaning me.
Disappointed, I decided to travel back down the canyon and fish the slack water of Diamond Fork. I was determined that the river would not defeat me and I would catch fish.
After a slow drive down I found the barricade that segregates the cutthroat from the species below. All it appeared to be is a rip rap dam. I suppose it does the job, but it certainly isnÕt very impressive.
It was 3 PM when I got to the lower section of Diamond. My boots were still on so it only took a minute or so and I was casting. I was using a beadhead prince above and had left it on the rod.
In the afternoon light the river looked like a ribbon of mercury.
I was determined to take a fish. The river was not going to beat me even if I had to stay until dark.
At 3:15 I was fast to a 17 inch brown. Out of the water he came. Once twice and finally four times. I would get him to the gravel shore and each time he struggled until he was back in the deep hole. Fishing might be sport to the angler, but its not sport to the fish. It is life and death and the struggle this fish went through was admirable to say the least. A valiant warrior.
After the fish was release I looked upstream as the deep holes and runs beconded me.
ÒEnoughÓ I said to myself and returned to the truck. ÒWhy spoil the moment?Ó I thought. Sometimes a single fish is as significant as a dozen.
Pezvela,
Glad to hear the prince nymph delivered a nice brown on Diamond Fork even if it failed you on the Waters. That stream is by far the most physically demanding stream I’ve ever encountered. I’ve fished the entire length of it and do know where it’s least demanding to fish. If you ever want to give it a try again I’d be happy to show you. I have off Monday and would be willing to go around noon as long as you can tolerate my 2 dogs who come with me fishing.
Thank you for your generous offer. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate it. The problem for me fishing from three forks up or from the upper bridge down is that it is simply too steep of trail, not to mention the plumetting and often raging stream. The hike from either end would do me in. Heartbreaking to be old.
Perhaps we could fish the lower end of Diamond Fork some day. I’m sure I would enjoy your company and that of your dogs. I have to fish slow and easy as my lungs and legs tire easy. Sometimes slow is not a bad thing, as it allows for working every inch of the water.
I was fishing above the bridge on Three forks where the sheep creek road crosses the waters. This is on the big stream not the same creek that the barrier is on. Is it closed?
Pevela,
Relax, it sounds like you were fishing legally. The Waters which are the major tribs to Diamond Fk are all open. It is only Diamond Fk above 3 Fks that is close. Yes, it is puny and I also question why they chose to put bonnevilles in there. I hope they do well but worry this may end predictable like the recent Kamloops experiment by DWR. I do know they originally were planning to put the bonnevilles in sixth water but decided against it as they thought the water temps weren’t right at spawning time I believe. Most of the water comes from Strawberry thru the tunnels. The only barriers on 6th water are natural falls. Now go get that ice auger ready, winter will be here soon.
Sorry, I missunderstood your original post. Sixth water was not treated and is open to fishing (I thought you were fishing DF above 3 forks, not 6th water). Sorry about the mix up.
As far as the other thing, I am not opposed to standing on ice while drinking iced burbon. Best of both worlds.