Introducing a Texan to the Norfork

DATE: Friday, 8/26/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-80s to low 90s, partly cloudy, fog on the river until about 10:00 AM

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan's near Ace in the Hole

HATCH: Small cream midges

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, #20 green cockleburr, #20 yellow Griffith's Gnat, #14 black cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Ed, Phillip, and their Texas friend, Jim. Jim, Ed, and Phillip fished the chute on river right at the head of Ace in the Hole and caught fish after fish using the #14 gray scud, and Ed put on a gray sowbug and continued to catch one fish after the other. We dead drifted the gray scud about 4 feet under a strike indicator. Ed, Jim, and I moved downstream to Mill Dam Eddy, and saw lots of sipping fish. We threw every emerger pattern we had, but the fish were extremely selective. I managed to catch two, and lose about 8 or 10. As usual time flies when one is "dry" fly fishing, and we moved back upstream in anticipation of generation. We left McClellan's. Suffice to say that everyone had a great day. These three guys can really fish, caught lots of fish, and were loads of fun. They fished Rim Shoals yesterday (August 25) and had luck on Ed's Big Ugly. They also reported rumors of a caddis hatch at Rim Shoals about 6:00 PM.

Everyone Caught Fish

DATE: Wednesday, 8/24/2005

TIME: 9:00 AM to 11:30 AM

WEATHER: Mid to high 80s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan's near Ace in the Hole

HATCH: Small cream midges and two crane flies

ROD USED: Winston 8’ 6” 5-weight WT Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: #20 green cockleburr, #20 Kay’s Gray

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Dick. Kay and Dick fished the chute on river right; Dick caught lots of fish (30-50) using a #14 gray scud. I fished the flat water and struggled to catch any fish at all. I did manage to catch a half dozen, but worked very hard for them; my fly of choice was a #14 Kay's Gray, pulled under water and left stationary. Kay was having problems getting hookups. She "dared" me to fish her spot with her rod. She had mistakenly added too large of a diameter tippet. I cut it off, and put on 6X fluorocarbon with a #14 gray scud. She said I had to catch 5 fish to prove it was a good spot. I proceeded to take 5 fish on 6 casts—nothing big, but fun nevertheless.

Wayne and Frank were fishing above us. We couldn't see Frank, but noted Wayne's rod bending almost constantly. Once again, he is giving the fish a sore mouth. My guess is that Frank took advantage of the fish as well. These two guys are the best of the best on the river

A Slow Day on the Water

DATE: Monday, 8/22/2005

TIME: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid to high 80s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: Small cream midges

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 black cockleburr, #14 black ant, #14 olive cockleburr, #22 CDC cream midge

OTHER: I fished with Wayne. Fishing gulping fish in flat water this time of year has a way of humbling people, and I'm no exception. I threw everything except the kitchen sink to the fish, and only managed to catch a half dozen or so. I was able to entice a few on a simple black cockleburr (black dubbing and black palmered hackle), a black ant, and a CDC cream midge fly. On a number of occasions, when the line would fly over the water, fish would scatter like crazy; they are so spooked. I did manage to catch a couple at Elisabeth Creek, and missed several more, but they, too, were skittish. Fish were gulping like crazy at Mill Dam Eddy, and looked like easy pickings, but NO WAY. They struck the ant with ferocity the first half dozen casts, but then totally quit, and would not strike anything. They wouldn't even move to look at my flies. Anyway, Wayne—knowing my weakness for dry fly fishing—had enticed me to fish for rising fish, and sure enough got me hooked again. Though I didn't catch many fish, it was a blast, and time flew by. Wayne caught lots of fish as usual, and just seems to know when and where they are, and what they are hitting.

OMG, What a Day

DATE: Thursday, 8/18/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low to high 90s, mostly sunny

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: Small cream midges early in the morning

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #14 gray Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished solo. Wayne dropped me off at Quarry Park access at the dam and I used a one-man pontoon to drift downstream to the top of the 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access. Water was turbid coming in from Dry Run Creek, and clouded up the river significantly. Someone said the US Fish and Wildlife Service flushed the hatchery. Anyway, it sure messed up the Norfork. I tried fishing near the access, but didn't get any hits. N the Resort Hole, below Gene's Trout Dock, I fished a #14 tan scud about 4 feet below a strike indicator using 6X Orvis flourocarbon tippet, with no weight except the weighted fly. Further downstream in the Resort Hole, near the private docks, I caught a few fish by slowly dead drifting the scud slightly on river right, but had to fish between several boats. I switched to the gray scud and caught a few more fish. I stopped at the riffle at the tail end of the Resort Hole and caught 4 fish, but had to work for them. Boats from upstream moved downstream through the riffle and set up in the Long Hole. I moved down through the Long Hole, and caught fish between the bait-chunking boats, but not as easily as yesterday, August 17. Boats were crowded in the pool, and didn't leave much room for anyone else to fish. Oh well, I guess it's their water too, and they were there first. They moved out about 11:00 AM and I moved into a location about mid-way of the pool, and began catching rainbows and cutthroats like crazy. I managed to catch one 17-inch rainbow and a brook trout, but didn’t catch any browns today. The fishing was pretty awesome. Three fish struck furiously at the yellow strike indicator. I'm going to put a #12 popper in the fly box for next time. I finally made myself move so as to fish below McClellan's, but the water came up. I was appreciative since the wind was blowing upstream and rowing was a struggle. Once again, it was a great day, and the Lord richly blessed me. Seems like the mojo has returned as has the desire to fish—I can't get enough of it.

Wayne had another fabulous day, and caught lots of fish as usual, almost one right after the other. He also landed some nice browns. It's amazing to watch him fish. He's almost like a machine, and his reactions are uncanny. I don't believe anyone can out fish him, day in day out, on the Norfork River. And oh, by the way, it’s a sure thing—now, he definitely has ruint me!

Fishing Out of the Pontoon Isn’t Half Bad

DATE: Wednesday, 8/17/2005

TIME: 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM

WEATHER: Low to mid-80s, cloudy, drizzle most of AM

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #14 gray Norfork River scud, #12 hopper

OTHER: I fished solo, but met up with Wayne towards the end of the day. He dropped me off at Quarry Park and I used a one-man pontoon to drift downstream to the top of the 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access. I didn't begin fishing until just below Gene's Trout Dock in the Resort Hole. I fished a #14 tan scud about 4 feet below a strike indicator using 7X Orvis flourocarbon tippet, with no weight except the weighted fly. Near the private docks in the Resort Hole, I caught a few fish slowly dead drifting the scud slightly on river right, but had to fish between several boats. At the riffle at the tail end of the Resort Hole, I switched to a gray scud and caught a few more fish. I continued drifting below the riffle in the Long Hole above the riffle above McClellan's and caught fish, seemingly one after the other, about middle ways of the pool towards river right. As I drifted downstream, the bait chunking guide boats moved in behind me. I caught 4 or 5 fish about 15 inches, and lost 4 or 5 more about that size as well. Fish caught were mostly rainbows with one brown and a couple of cutthroat's thrown in. I drifted downstream to McClellan's near Ace in the Hole, and caught fish like crazy. Someone said they released fish today, and it is likely since the chute area at McClellan's was jam-packed with people. Anyway, the fish were in a frenzy. I saw lots of fish alongside the island below McClellan's, but couldn't entice any to take a dry fly. I fished at Mill Dam Eddy for a few minutes and managed to take a couple of nice 15-inch fish. It was a delightful day. I am really enjoying time on the river in the pontoon boat. It’s pretty awesome to sit comfortably, drink coffee, and catch fish.

As usual, Wayne caught lots of fish, and had some nice browns. He's still the best fisher on the river, day in, day out. I'm afraid he's ruint me!

Isn’t Life Grand

DATE: Wednesday, 8/10/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low to mid-90s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s downstream to island

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #14 olive cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Dick. I fished a #14 tan scud about 4 feet below a strike indicator using 7X Orvis flourocarbon tippet, with no weight except the weighted fly. I began to fish just above the “Catch and Release” sign across the river from Otter Creek, and caught 8 fish dead drifting the tan scud from above the sign to the point at Ace in the Hole. Dick and Kay were fishing at the point, and both were catching fish, using the same setup. I moved Dick to the flat water, and I tied on a #14 olive cockleburr with floatant, and dead drifted it over some rising fish. I immediately picked up a fish. I had Dick tie on a #20 olive cockleburr; he couldn't see the fly so I tied a #14 black cockleburr to his tippet. This was Dick's lesson on emerger fishing the Norfork River. He caught several fish, including 2 nice 14-15 inchers. Kay continued to catch fish upstream at the point dead drifting the scud. After about two hours, all the other fishers left the river and we had the whole river to ourselves. Ain't life grand? We fished all morning and had a great dime, catching lots of fish.

A Lazy Float and Fishing

DATE: Tuesday, 8/9/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM

WEATHER: Low to mid-90s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished with Wayne. Kay shuttled us to the Quarry Park and we used kick boats to drift downstream to Wayne's. I didn't begin fishing until just below Gene's Trout Dock in the Resort Hole because of crowded river. I fished a #14 tan scud about 4 feet below a strike indicator using 7X Orvis flourocarbon tippet, with no weight except the weighted fly. At the private docks in the lower part of the Resort Hole, I caught 8 fish slowly dead drifting the scud slightly on river right. At the riffle at the tail end of the Resort Hole, I waded and caught several fish. I continued drifting to the Long Hole and again caught several fish. Fish caught were mostly rainbows with a couple of cutthroat's thrown in. No fish were caught of any significant size (above 15 inches). Generation started and I began rowing to exit the river. I continued to catch fish downstream of McClellan's. All fish were caught with the same setup, and the same fly. It was a delightful day. I wish I had wet waded because of the heat. Also of note, I had forgotten how much fun it was to fish the 10’ 4-weight Winston WT.

As usual, Wayne caught lots of fish, and had two very nice brown trout (one 20 inches). He's still the best fisher on the river, day in, day out. I find myself fishing more and more like him. Now, if I could only catch fish like him!

Great Fishing at McClellan’s

DATE: Thursday, 8/4/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

WEATHER: Mid-80s to low 90s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #16 copper Norfork River scud, #14 tan Norfork River scud, #14 flying ant

OTHER: I fished with Dick. We fished just above the point at Ace in the Hole, across from the leaning sycamore tree. I cast about 50 feet to a seam near the opposite bank, and fish would hit the scud imitations every 3rd or 4th cast. The bottom line is that Dick took about two dozen fish on the scuds—not bad for someone just learning to fly fish. He is probably the best male student I've ever taught (he listens!), and was quick to observe that drag free drifts produce hook-ups. I observed dead scuds near the surface of the water; they were a yellow/brown color, but looked a transparent tan when held under water. I also noted scuds on the bottom, size 16 or so. I did manage to take one fish on a flying ant. It was a great day, and fishing was about as good as I've seen it at McClellan's in a long time.

Just another note: Dick and I were fishing about 60 feet apart, and we had some yahoo on a one-man pontoon try to fish between us. My patience runs short in retirement, and I politely asked him to leave. He gave some smart ass answer, but did leave. Over the course of the last several years, fly fishing etiquette has become almost non-existent. I've had people walk in water I was fishing, almost cross my line, throw cigarette butts in the water, etc. We've got to begin emphasizing good etiquette—and the guides are among the worst! However, in fairness, some are very polite (Tom Hawthorne's bunch at Ozark Angler, John Gulley up here in Norfork); don't infringe on their client's water).