Wednesday, February 28, 1996

We check out of Spring’s Junction and head SE (?) to the “Poplar Station” on the Hope River – drier country, but absolutely gorgeous just the same. The “Harry Schearer” (I think) run the station (with key to gate across bridge). WE get on the water about 11:00 or so; things start out pretty quickly when I get a shot at a fish and miss, then hook and lose a smallish (15”) brown on a dry. Things then slow down quite dramatically, perhaps because, as it turns out, we’ve been following a couple from Montana (with 2 yr. old daughter in tow); seems they originally learned of the river a couple of years ago via a guide who’d heard about it from Chris Dawson, who learned about it from Bob! (they own the Cottonwood Campground on the Bighorn River at Fort Smith, Montana; “Alvin”, I believe). We chat a bit and move up the river, and before too long, Bob spots a fish and we fire the nymph up in there. Strike indicator (white wollen yarn) dips, I set the hook, and a massive looking fish surges from the bucket-turns out he’s foul-hooked in his substantial shoulder; lengthy, scrambly fight ensues, but the fish ultimately comes unbuttoned – much to our dismay. Back down we go; I get a few more shots at good fish, but no go. Hook and land a 2”er! Then, about 4:45, Bob spots a fish; size 12 pheasant tail nymph on 4x tippet – “set!” I do – and the ol’Hady Marguiq does it’s sound thing, blah blah – but in any event it’s a friggin’ monster!! We manage to avert potential problems with the only rock in this smooth pool; a long forearm tensing struggle with directions barked from Bob results in a cool 9 1/3 lb, 27 ¾” brown. That’s a wrap; we head up to the “Museum Hut” upstream and check in for the evening. Totally unreal stuff.