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The 14th ended up not being so bad after all. Lots of pink wiggler eating fish and found a bit of respite from the wind. It was hot though. Yesterday, the plan was to head back up Paradise Valley for some more cutthroats on dries. The wind was ripping about 25 in Livingston and my client said that he wanted to float through town instead. I say, whatever, if that's what you want to do…fine with me. Got a few fish to eat little dries early and then they started eating hopper pretty well in fast water the rest of the afternoon. Primary issue with our success had to do with the wind and not leaving the fly on the water for more than 2.5 seconds for most of the later morning and afternoon. But, fish were looking up and hunting hoppers pretty well.
A few thoughts I had early in the day, as I was bucking against the wind and offering sentence after sentence of suggested casting, drifting, and hook setting suggestions for the first 4 hours, reminded me of why I am the guide. First off, I'm done taking people where they want to go if I think there is a better option. Guides are typically, and hopefully, able to look at the various factors including angler skill sets, water conditions, weather, crowds, fish behavior, and expectations for the day and then come up with a "best" plan. In my case, the best plan is usually determined by years of experience putting all those things together. If you want to go fish someplace that is not even on the recommended top 3 suggestions for the day…don't hire a guide or hire another one.
Other thoughts include, but not limited too, flies need to either be on or in the water in order for fish to eat them. Feeding fish like to be in certain water types, so it doesn't to occasionally "drill-down" that search for fish by keeping your flies in or on that type of water more so than "random shit water" where fish don't really eat. It's hard to expect your fly to float if the the first 15' of fly line is black and cracked and sinking, fish do care and a new fly line might be a good idea at that point…or maybe you should just not worry about fishing as it is pointless to fish with a destroyed, sinking-floatin line and no, it''s not about trying to sell a new line. Goes back to that thing about trying to be an effective fishing guide. Sure, you can use my stuff, but if you want to use yours…don't bring junk and expect a miracle. Hopper fishing is fun, even with a sinking, floating line and only occasional drifts through goos stuff. Fish are sometimes hungry and aggressive and if you struggle to see a size 6 hopper made entirely of foam with a calf tail post, hopper fishing might not be the most effective way to catch fish for you that day.