Ahh....Summer!

The long wet spring was officially over for me on Wednesday. The water levels of the  North Fork of the Coeur d'Alene were higher than normal for the 6th of July but were certainly fishable. When I stepped into the first run for the day I had high expectations of how the day would turn out. I wasn't disappointed. Upstream and downstream two friends had also stepped into the water and were looping out line for their first casts. The choice of this particular stretch of water was planned, it seemed like a ritual to fish here on my first trip of the year. I had a #14 Purple Parachute Adams when I made my first cast. The line snaked out to a spot that I knew held fish, the drift was good but not perfect however my effort went unrewarded, if I had hooked a fish on that first cast that is the only thing that would have made this day better.
It was only a few casts later that I was bringing in the first Westslope Cutthroat of the year. As I looked up and down the river my fishing partners were also reeling in fish. I am sure their smiles were a big as mine.
After waiting so long for any of our rivers to get in fishable condition it was a stellar day by any measure. The fish were willing, they were looking up so I fished dry flies all day, the day was sunny and warm and we only had fishing competition on one run.  
Good weather, good company, good fishing......Good times.
The season started late so fish often enjoy the surplus of cold, clear water and hungry fish.