First Fishing Trip in a One-Man Pontoon

DATE: Tuesday, 5/3/2005

TIME: 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM

WEATHER: Mid-40s to mid-60s, partly cloudy, mild wind

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Quarry Park to top of 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: Various midges

ROD USED: Winston 7- 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 furnace cockleburr, #16 olive Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished with Wayne and Harold. We "floated" from Quarry Park to top of 2nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access. I caught lots of fish on both the cockleburr and scud, and saw lots of fish in the river, particularly in the pools. I spent most of the day adjusting the one-man pontoon. It’s a nice craft, and allows one to see much of the river. At this point in my learning to use one, it's impossible to fish, though, because the wind blows me all over the place, turning me around in circles. I'll try an anchor to see if it helps. Fishing has been WOW. It's good to be back in the swing of things. I saw a dead male brown trout in the water below Mill Dam Eddy. The fish measured 34 inches and 24 pounds. It was bleeding through the anus and was discolored on one side.

Great Fishing, Good Catching

DATE: Monday, 5/2/2005

TIME: 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-40s to low 60s, partly cloudy, mild wind

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: Various midges

ROD USED: Winston 7- 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Wayne; fishing was excellent. I caught lots of fish casting the #14 cockleburr quartering downstream, then stripping it back. The fish hit on almost every cast, but lots of fished were missed. Nothing huge was caught, but fish were healthy with lots of color.

May Day Fishing

DATE: Sunday, 5/1/2005

TIME: 2:30 PM to 5:00 PM

WEATHER: Mid-50s to low 60s, partly cloudy, mild wind

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: Various midges

ROD USED: Unknown

FLIES USED: #14 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished solo on the left side of both islands across from Ol’ Charlie’s, stripping the furnace cockleburr and catching lots of fish. I had good success at both the lower end of both the upper and lower pools. The fish were pretty hot and well colored.