The popularity of this lake was evident when we arrived. There was probably 7 boats out on the lake including 1 float tube. There was quite a bit of surface action. The lake was down quite a bit from its spring levels but launching the boat was still pretty easy as can be there. I started out with a carey on a size 8 and my mother-in-law started off with a muddler minnow (she picked it). We started rowing around the lake clockwise from the launch. I got maybe one hit on the carey that I missed on the north end and mother-in-law got nothing. I switched to a dragonfly nymph on a size 8 (this version had a red floss butt) half way around and missed about 2 and lost 1 more close to the boat that was fairly good size (hey I was the designated oarsman). I looked at the "starter kit" of flies that came with my mother-in-law's rod combo she bought at White Elephant in Spokane. Found a nice grey dubbed nymph with brown hackle and told her to tie that one on. Course she caught and landed the next three fish. I changed to pattern I made up (damself fly nymph with a wine colored chenile body) and caught and landed a nice rainbow (about 10"). I decided to change to a size 6 montana stonefly and then I was getting pretty good action. I only lost 1 soon as I got it to the boat, all the rest I was able to land. I changed the mother-in-law to the same fly (always carry two of every kind with me) and she was catching them pretty good too. I figure it may have been the hook size as to why I was missing and losing so many? Other than the fact I was almost always in mid stroke when rowing. The fishing was kinda slow though but everybody on the lake seemed to be catching something. We were there about 5 hours, left at 3:00pm. We kept 5 cutthroat between the two of us, all about 12-13" (we didnt measure). The rainbows were only 9-10" and 1 about 4"; we released all the rainbows. I have to teach my mother-in-law about catch & release. If I'm keeping any I usually like to only keep every third one caught.

---