back at it

Hi Folks, Back guiding today after a couple day lay off.  Was a weird day for me as all I could think of was the flood and how many people are still dealing with the reality of the situation.  Incredibly my afternoon trip was on a river in the Stowe area and we caught fish.  Guided this morning over towards Burlington on a small lake for northern pike.  A lot of flooding damage in the Waterbury to Richmond area.  Not sure the Winooski drainage will be fished anytime soon as many of the tribs and the main stem just got wrecked!!!  I could not believe the destruction along route 2 and how high the water came up. Surface temperature was 69 degrees and I would like to see it a bit cooler.  Slight north breeze with good morning fog.  We spin fished and pounded the water.  The water clarity was not great, but this particular body of water is always off colored.  We landed one northern on a large Husky Jerk.  Missed one other fish and that was that.  As the water cools off the pike fishing will get better.  Water levels in lakes are still pretty high and that should settle in a few days.  This afternoon the river we fly fished was 66 degrees down low and 62 degrees up high.  Water level was up and slightly off colored.  Still hard to believe that we are river fishing 3 days after the flood.  Our rivers took a beating it was interesting to see the changes in certain spots.  Still the stable pools that did not change held fish.  We landed a beautiful 10" wild rainbow that looked stuffed full of food.  Also tangled with some fall fish and a smallmouth bass.  When we moved up stream we fished for brook trout and brown trout.  Missed a few fish and I am not sure what species they were.  Did land a fat brightly colored brook trout on a stimulator.  Pretty incredible that the trout were rising in these river flows.  We focused our casts on the pools and soft water areas.  Lots of wood blown around and nice undercut banks for a big fish to hide in.  Off with the boat in the am to chase smallmouth bass.  Remember to clean your gear and keep the non-native species at home.  Have Fun, Willy