A Beautiful Little Brookie

DATE: Tuesday, 1/4/2005

TIME: 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM

WEATHER: Mid-60s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, below Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: Significant midge hatch; crane flies were on the water surface and in the air, and possibly some caddis were hatching. Fish were rising to hatches.

ROD USED: Unknown

FLIES USED: #18 olive Norfork River scud dropping a #26 pear beaded black midge, #20 Griffith’s Gnat

OTHER: I fished with Wayne and Harold. I caught two fish—a rainbow and a brook trout—at the Buffalo Horns (near Tony Austin's). The brookie took a #20 Griffith's Gnat; it was only about 8 inches long, but the most beautiful colored fish I have caught in several years. Fishing has been real slow since late November.

New Year’s Day

DATE: Saturday, 1/1/2005

TIME: 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-60s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, below Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Unknown

FLIES USED: #18 olive Norfork River scud dropping a #26 pear beaded black midge, #20 Griffith’s Gnat

OTHER: I fished with Wayne. I caught four fish, broke off one, and missed three. I caught one below the access, but above the riffle on #18 olive scud, one at the tail out of the first riffle on the midge pupa, one near the Buffalo Horns (in front of Tony Austin's) on #16 olive scud, and one in front of the new BIG house using #16 olive scud. The river was crowded at first, but no one, except Wayne, was catching fish, so most left by 11:00 AM. The riffles at the River Ridge Inn are really nice. All the water held lots of fish, but they were real spooky. It was great having peace and quiet on the river after so many kids visiting! What a way to begin the new year.