From the Kettle to the St. Joe

I've Always Wanted to Fish That River

The nagging desire of near ancient anglers has become a centuries old lament. Whether it's eye-balling the other side of an impassable river to longing for perfect conditions in otherwise inclement weather or shuffling through a pictorial magazine, drooling over pristine water and huge fish in a strangers hand to missing a hatch by a hangover; it's all the same. Much of what you see, you cannot have.

Unless you make the effort.

And in this case it was driving 600 miles in a day, racing from the soaked hills of the coast to the dry northeastern corner of the State of Washington, trying to outrun thunderstorms and biting flies.

Destination: Kettle River/North Columbia
Purpose: Monster trout

Along with the usual suspect Ghillie, we reach the first destination in good shape to find a quiet little campground on an island between the Kettle River and the Columbia.

It's called Kamloops Island and is run by the National Parks Service. $10 a night and the best deal for less people and adequate conveniences.

The campground became our base camp for forays up and down the Kettle and Columbia. As is usual this year, water levels were high, with both rivers dropping a few inches each day. Ghillie and I spent two days wandering, looking for put-ins and take-outs for drift craft, along with wading access points. We discovered that the Kettle is best suited for raft type craft or pontoon boats. The North Columbia requires power craft to handle the distances and current.

Our first taste of water was on the Columbia.

We meandered down several gravel roads looking for good access and finally found one that brought us to within a few hundred yards of the river. A quick step over private property and we were on the riv, casting looking to cast dry flies for hallow hidded trout.

Alas, to no avail. We'd missed the hatch.

Our discussion then shifted to whether to come back later or focus on the Kettle. And the Kettle it was. But the Columbia did look promising for another trip with the right kind of boat.

On the way in to the Columbia, we encountered a few of the local residents. A couple of coyotes, several deer in velvet and a chubby black bear male taking a morning sojourn along the gravel.

That night, we engaged in a lengthy discussion with Officer Jake of the National Park Law Enforcement Rangers. He's an avid fly fisherman and hunter (as well as he should be living in that neck of the woods). His information about the kettle and the N. Columbia was extremely helpful, and the fact that he's read some of my stories in Gun Dog Magazine added to the visit.

Officer Jake said he was expecting the arrival of German Shorthair female puppy in a matter of a few days. Along with his trusty Brittainy, I'm sure he'll be "dogged up" for some time.

In the morning Ghillie and set out again for the drifts of the Kettle. Weather broke into sun and blue and the river gave us both a great morning.

Later that day, we were joined by another one of the usual suspects, Larry S, from Spokane.

That evening all three of us walked the banks of the Kettle casting dry flies for aggressive trout. All of us scored on moderate size fish and called the evening bite a success.

The next morning it was back to another Kettle destination. I think we might have crossed a "no tresspassing" line, but it was unclear at the entry point. Big Stimulator patterns seemed to work the best.

After spending several hours hiking the shore, it was time to call it quits and set about packing for the St. Joe.

The St. Joe is yet another kind of river. Different than the Kettle and requiring a post of its own.

I'll be back at the post in a day or so.

Until then. There it is. More later.