North Ram. We decide to fish a “new” stretch of river, park near the infamous “Booby – Trapped Cabin”. We arrive at noon on a perfect day – calm, mostly sunny, water temp. on the N. Ram is 54° by 3:00. We start fishing about 12:30, head upstream. I catch a beautiful 15” cutt in the first good pale, Royal Wulff. River’s in excellent shape, good assortment of bugs around, small yellow stones, mayflies, hoppers or two, occasional Green Drake. I’m 6 for 12 in the first half hour, head further up – some fine pools but action slows down. Run into three flyfishermen who claim a) recent electroshocking b) 24” ‘er taken from furthest pool I reach. Robert and I settle into a prodigious little pool just up from the cabin. Robert eventually catches 20 fish, mostly small and mostly from this pool, combination of Royal Trude and GRHE nymph. I catch about 15 for the afternoon, also little guys from this pool – Royal Wulff, Trude & Yellowstone Hoppers. Robert heads back to Red Deer, I camp out at the cabin. Fish from about 7:00 till dark though, heavy mating flight of what resemble Slate Cream Duns (from Dick Pobst’s Handbook) “this light-colored mayfly inhabits faster waters at lower altitudes. Hatch occurs from July 5 to August 15 and emergence is at dusk; spinners fall morning and evening … two tails. Tan comparadun the fish in the prodigious pool respond accordingly, and, somewhat unbelievably, I land another 25 fish, all but a couple from the same pool – all on the same Royal Trude (which is not at all like the Slate Cream Dun). At one point, land 6 fish on 6 consecutive casts. Only problem – the fish are all little guys – 10” at best, lots 4” or so. Rains hard from 3-5 a.m., don’t get a great sleep.
