February Thaw Underway
Following a couple of weeks of arctic air and a good amount of much-needed snow, it looks like we’re about to enter the February thaw.
Sunny skies and a high of 28 expected today with 40’s tomorrow bumping into the 50’s over the weekend and into the early part of next week. As you would expect we’ll have plenty of wind to go along with those balmy temps. Tomorrow (Thursday) actually looks to be the calmest day with a high near 40 and SW wind 8 to 11 mph but after a couple of weeks of ice making temps and accumulating snow, ramp and river conditions are not optimal.
If you do decide to give it a go expect unplowed parking lots and snowdrifts on the ramps and if you’re wade fishing expect to do plenty of wading through the snow enroute to the river with an abundance of shelf ice when you get there.
Give it a few days and let the sun work its magic. I’d expect we’ll see much improved ramp and river conditions next week.
And speaking of sun, as I write I’m happy to report that the sun is slowly inching ever closer to my parking lot and the shop. It’s still stuck in the road for the time being but it won’t be long and it will be thawing the frozen tundra at WCA.
Not much to report from the river. A lot of ice, a lot of ducks and geese and not a soul to be seen. It’ll be a different story soon.
Once access is restored plan on plying the depths with those sowbugs and other winter fare and if you happen upon a spot sheltered from the winds this is prime time for winter midges.
Water temps are cold, currently 33 degrees with flows holding in the 3100 CFS range. Fish will not be overly active in these conditions but a sunny day with midges on the water sometimes sets up for good action in the flats with the bugs and the slightly warmer shallows giving them multiple reasons to emerge from the winter depths.
Swingers will return next week, targeting the buckets and tailouts and single handers will start to work that slow winter swing/strip off the banks while also dredging the winter depths. Fish are hungry and running caloric deficits at this point of the winter cycle but it’ll be another month before conditions allow for them to expend the energy required for the chase.
Shop hours will start to normalize as the weather dictates but you can expect us to be here ready to run your shuttles once some semblance of daily traffic has returned. In the meantime – please call ahead.
Enjoy the sunshine and not shoveling and we’ll see you soon at WCA.