Chad Jaques and his wife Marjorie own Trout Bum 2, a fly shop in Park City, Utah. Chad’s been fishing with us at BC West for a few years now, and in 2010 he finally talked with wife Marjorie in to joining him for the week.
Chad and Marjorie had a pretty special evening on the Dean this year, and Chad was kind enough to write it up for us.
Thanks Chad!
An Evening on the Dean
I would like to tell you a little fishing story from my last trip to the incredible Dean River.
It was my wife’s first trip to the Dean, and although she had landed a nice Dean River Steelhead on her first day on the Upper River, it had been 4 days since she had touched some Dean River chrome. Marjorie had been fishing hard as was noted by some of the other anglers at BC West, but her last few hookups had ended with slack line and early released steelhead – no pictures. She expressed her fears to me that she had come all this way and may have already touched her last Dean River steelhead.
Scott, our faithful guide from B.C. West, advised me a run that had not been easy to reach in the Upper River was opening up because of the dropping water levels.
I told Marjorie this was our chance. The run Scott had reached I call the Stump Run, and I have had several memorable mornings and evenings there. With advice from Scott, Marjorie and I set off to fish the Stump Run for the first time in 2010. Wading to the run looked tough for my wife, so we called our fellow guest from the lodge (Steve) on the radio and asked if he would need the boat at Totem. Steve said no, told us his plan and we were off.
After two boat crossings, a long walk and a short river crossing (wading) we were there at the Stump. Needless to say I was a little tired – the rowing, and the walking was enough for me for the moment. We rigged our rods and I joined Marjorie for her first pass through the stump run.
Sometimes we fish together like this; I walk along side, and coach or help if she slips in the powerful current. We didn’t have to wait long – the faithful Stump produced quickly. Marjorie had made 10 or so full length casts and swings flowed by a 2 step downriver. I can’t remember what we were talking about – maybe it was how spectacular the evening was in the special place, but anyway in the middle of the swing her line came tight. Looking down the fly line my heart jumped and I said “Dear that is not a snag”. She smiled and said “I know” as she raised her rod.
The big buck tore downriver, ripping Marjorie into the backing and the he proceeded to jump in the tail out of the pool. Marjorie was laughing and said “I hope I don’t lose this one”. “No way”, I yelled back. “You have him hooked good – I’m getting the camera!” After a great battle with several more jumps and one more screaming run into the backing, the big buck came to hand and Marjorie’s dry spell ended. I snapped some photos and we let the big guy go.
After a brief celebration and a Coke I stepped into the run. I was fishing a big Kilowatt fly even though a similar fly had failed me on a large steelhead earlier in the week( the hook had opened up almost straight). I worked my way down the run as the sun was beginning to set, and fished well past where Marjorie had caught her beast.
I noticed at some point that Marjorie was awful quiet. Was she crossing her fingers for me, praying that I might catch one of these magnificent fish too? I had to turn and look at her sitting up on the gravel bar behind me. She wasn’t crossing her fingers, and she was eating one of B’s cookie bars. I told her that was unfair and the please bring me some also. She agreed to and almost reached me with the cookie bar before my line came tight mid swing and I had the chance to say “Wife, you are good luck”.
After another epic Dean River battle with several jumps and screaming runs I had an incredible Dean River fish also. Marjorie took some photos and we were left to bask in the glory of another Dean River sunset. We called the lodge on the radio and told B we would be a little late for dinner – she said she would save us a plate. After the ATV ride down from the Upper River we were treated to a hot shower, an incredible dinner courtesy of B and the staff, and a comfortable bed. What could be better?
Thanks B.C. West for the Perfect Dean River Evening.
[…] A Great Evening on the Dean […]