Early Float

It was good to get back to the Bow. While the golden stone hatch is a little later getting rolling this year, the fish are definitely keyed up on the nymphs. At every stop I looked on the rocks and few had many shucks, so we focused on hanging a pair of nymphs under an indicator for the day. With a fellow quite new to fly fishing, we opted to fish a 5 foot depth (from indicator to bottom fly) and work the shallow seams tight to shore. The day started slower, as expected due to the low pressure front and cooler air sweeping through 8 hrs earlier, but picked up by late morning. And when it did pick up, it was silly. The rainbows are quite thin this year and in need of a serious dose of stoneflies. Every single fish opted to take the larger, dark nymph. I saw 2 stone adults all day, one on the water and another in a robin's mouth. The wind was forecast 40 gusting 60 for the morning and 50, gusting 70 for the afternoon. The weather folks were bang on. We got to the Highwood the same time the wind did. With the HW quite murky and the wind howling, we tagged a few more at the next bluffs and called it a day close to 3pm. A lot of fish!
We began our day at 4:45 am. With the downstream launches closed, we weren't going to start later and get behind the chaos that no doubt will hit the river daily until Legacy & Carseland open. There again, a guy should give the N Bow Lodge a call and see if their launch is available.
This is a shot of the river @ Policeman's taken at 4:30am. The clouds were moving and the wind shook the shrubs in the foreground. The exposure is at +4; ISO 3200; shutter open for 25 seconds; fish eye lens. Turned out ok. :)