Fishing Magician Report: Sparse fishing, spectacular views on Icicle

I just had to do it. I couldn't wait any longer to rig up my fly rod and give the Icicle River a try. I knew the water would be high and cold, but if I didn't get at it I may not get any fly fishing on this river done at all this season.

I'm glad I went, too. It was a beautiful day and the scenery up the Icicle is spectacular. I was disappointed in the first hole I fished. The trout ignored my Parachute Adams, but a few took a look at the Stimulator I tied on next.

Still, I expected better action and climbed out of the river and went down stream to one of my favorite pools. On my first cast I caught a fat rainbow on the Stimulator and a few more at this hole. Encouraged that fish would take a fly in high, cold water I packed up and headed for the Entiat.

It is a long drive to get above the falls where you can fish, but it's a really pretty trip and I have a small stretch of river near the Spruce Grove campground that has never disappointed me. It didn't this time either. I used the same fly I had used on the Icicle and caught cutthroat, rainbow and brook trout. They were all small, but it was a ton of fun.