Thursday, August 31, 2006

DATE: Thursday, August 31, 2006

TIME: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Cook’s Island to top of 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: One caddis and one crane fly

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #20 furnace cockleburr, #18 gray elk hair caddis

OTHER: I fished solo. Fishing was challenging and it was intense trying to "outsmart" the little animals with pea-sized brains. It reminded me of the old days when I fished almost exclusively with dry flies. Regardless, it was fun to concentrate so much. I struggled for about 45 minutes before catching my first small fish in shallow, fast water on the cockleburr. Then I managed to take another, but that was it. After fishing my way upstream, I finally took a chance and switched to a #18 gray caddis and immediately was rewarded with a fish, then another and another. On one drift, a large cutthroat came out of nowhere and gently took the caddis. I braced for a fight with the 2-weight, and it lasted all of 2 seconds as the big fish broke me off. I guess the cutthroat to be over 18 inches. I managed to take a couple more fish on the caddis. It was another great day in paradise.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM

WEATHER: High 60s rising to low 70s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: A few midges

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, Big Ugly

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Ron. This was a repeat of August 29—great fishing and catching—we all caught fish. Kay and Ron had particularly good days and both caught lots of fish. Ron's casting has improved and he fished well. There were several others fishing McClellan's, but we had the area we were fishing to ourselves except for a nice gentleman who was fishing downstream. I caught several on the scud, then switched to the Big Ugly, and missed several. It was a little too early in the day. We left the river at 11:00 AM so Ron could head back to Benton, AR. It was great fishing with him, and he did very well.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

DATE: Tuesday, August 29, 2006

TIME: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: A few midges and caddis

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, Big Ugly

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Ron. This was a great fishing and catching day in paradise—we all caught fish. Kay and Ron had particularly good days and both caught lots of fish. Ron had one fish that was close to 17 inches, and another that was at least 16 inches. I fished the scud for a couple of hours, then switched to the Big Ugly, and caught several dead drifting it as a dry fly. I then would slightly "pop" the fly, like a popping bug, and fish would explode on the fly. I caught at least a dozen and a half fishing this way. I then began fishing Ed's Hole and managed a 22-inch cutthroat on the 2-weight fishing the Big Ugly on top in fairly shallow water. Surprisingly, the fish did not fight much until it saw us, but oh my, was it pretty. Kay got a picture and we released it to be caught again. Despite the great, near fall like weather, we had McClellan's to ourselves!

Monday, August 28, 2006

DATE: Monday, August 28, 2006

TIME: 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 80s, overcast

WATER CONDITIONS: Low, somewhat turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Crooked Creek, Snow Access

HATCH: N/A

ROD USED: Unknown

FLIES USED: Crawfish, hopper

OTHER: I fished with Ron. Fishing for smallmouth bass was tough today. We walked and fished downstream to a relatively large pool, seeing lots of smallmouths, but they were not very aggressive. Several fish struck on top, but few hooked up. We did manage a few bluegills, some small rock bass, and a few smallmouth bass. Ron foul hooked a large (8-12 pounds) carp, but the carp took off, and broke the line.

Friday, August 25, 2006

DATE: Friday, August 25, 2006

TIME: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

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

HATCH: A few midges and several crane flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished with my favorite fishing partner, Kay. This was another wonderful day in paradise—fishing and catching were both GREAT. We entered the river as it was still falling, and immediately began catching lots of fish near the "Catch and Release" sign and downstream. I moved downstream to Ed's Hole and it was almost a fish every cast. Kay was having some trouble hooking up, so I move upstream to help her. We had an AH move in on us from upstream, and he was casting within about 3 feet of my upper drift. In addition, he was wading in the lane where the fish were feeding. I didn't say anything, but then he attempted to move between Kay and me (we were only about 40 feet apart), and I asked him not to crowd her. He proceeded to move downstream of her, between her and another fisherman (about 100 feet between them), and began crowding Kay, casting near her lower drift. I politely asked him not to crowd her, and asked again, not so politely. He mumbled something, and I moved to get between Kay and him. Kay told him good etiquette dictated 100 feet distance between them, and he told us to mind our own business. Fortunately, I'm big enough that he saw we meant "business" and proceeded downstream. Poor fellow didn't catch but a couple of trout. He was from Missouri with a license plate "TROUT". He had all the fineries of a gentleman fisherman—the best of everything money could buy. I suppose I'm getting too old to put up with crap like that. Anyway, he ruined our fishing experience; fog settled in despite it being after lunch, and we fished our way upstream and left.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

DATE: Wednesday, August 23, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s—downstream of Otter Creek continuing downstream for about ¾ mile

HATCH: A few midges and several crane flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished with Ed and Phillip today. This was another of those days when fishing and catching were both GREAT. We got into the water while it was still falling, with lots of "fog" on the river. As the fog lifted and the water level stabilized, we began catching LOTS of fish dead drifting a scud about 30 inches below a strike indicator. We all managed to catch lots of fish. I caught all rainbows, except for one brown. Mill Dam Eddy was full up of people as John Gulley was guiding two clients and another person fishing below them, so we passed on by. By then, it was beginning to near noon, so we fished at Charlie's Island for a few minutes and left the river. No big fish were caught but it was a memorable day, nevertheless.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

DATE: Tuesday, August 22, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to high 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: White River, Wildcat shoals in AM, Rim Shoals in PM

HATCH: A few midges

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #16 Flashback bead head pheasant tail dropping a #16 tan White River sowbug at Wildcat Shoals, #14 olive mini bugger and numerous other flies at Rim Shoals

OTHER: I fished with Ed and Phillip today. We chased the water upstream to Wildcat Shoals where it was still dropping. There was a lot of "fog" on the river. I grabbed the wrong rod this AM and was under gunned all day. Oh well, it was a good thing that reminded me that I could catch fish closer in if necessary. We managed to catch several rainbows at Wildcat Shoals, mostly on the sowbug. Our strike indicators were only about 3 feet above the first fly. Upon noting that the fish were not taking the bead head pheasant tail, all of us switched to one fly, i.e. no dropper. The water was dingy from the previous evening's 3 inches of rain. In fact, Denton Ferry Road flooded and was closed that previous evening. The fishing was not spectacular, but was good and we caught enough fish to stay interested. At Rim Shoals after lunch, the water was dingy and still a little high. It never did drop much. Fishing was TOUGH. Ed caught several on a Birds Nest cast quartering downstream. I managed a few on a mini bugger fished the same way, but stripped back. We did not see rising fish as they had seen the previous afternoon, when they managed to catch a bunch of fish on or near the surface.

Friday, August 18, 2006

DATE: Friday, August 18, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to mid-90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units with generation beginning

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Cook’s Island

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #20 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished solo, but met up with Wayne. There was a lot of fog on the river. I managed to catch 2 or 3 before water came up, less than an hour after I entered the water. The fish never rose because of the fog.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

DATE: Thursday, August 17, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to mid-90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Cook’s Island to top of 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: A few midges and crane flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #14 furnace cockleburr, #20 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished solo today. Neither the riffles nor the pool yielded much today. I managed a 17-inch tagged fish at the bottom of the pool on a tan scud, and one other small fish. I switched to a #14 furnace cockleburr and caught a few fish on top. I switched again to a #20 furnace cockleburr and caught several fish on top, and stripping; a couple of the fish—cutthroats—were about 17 inches. Today, I caught rainbows, cutthroats, and a brown. I observed redds beginning to show up with fish guarding them. I also saw John Wilson catch a huge brown right in front of Cook’s Island. He “hooked” the fish twice and broke off, and “hooked” it the third time and landed it. It was over 30 inches.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

DATE: Wednesday, August 16, 2006

TIME: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to mid-90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, the Pool to Mill Dam Eddy and back

HATCH: A few midges and crane flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #20 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Wayne. I fished the riffle below the island and caught two rainbows on the tan scud. Moving into the Pool, I made long casts but caught no fish, though I did note several fish closer in. By shortening the cast, I began catching fish on the scud, including several rainbows, cutthroats, and a brookie, but no browns. One rainbow was about 17 inches. I moved to a long riffle and managed to take several on a #20 furnace cockleburr. The amount of sediment from development of Overlook Estates that had moved in and accumulated via rains and corresponding runoff of August 10 and August 11 was amazing. Near Elisabeth Creek, huge piles of sediment had accumulated over 1 foot deep forming an area of about 100 square feet, and included a pile of 1-inch aggregate mixed in with the sediment. The river bottom has changed dramatically, and is filling with the sediment. Areas several feet deep are now only inches deep. Wayne commented that it took the river over 3-1/2 hours to clear with full generation this time compared to near instantaneous clearing before. Is this the beginning of the end?

Saturday, August 12, 2006

DATE: Saturday, August 12, 2006

TIME: 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to mid-90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 1 unit

LOCATIONS FISHED: White River, Rim Shoals 2^nd riffle

HATCH: A rare caddis or two

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #16 bead head flashback pheasant tail, #14 mini bugger, #14 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Karyn, her boyfriend Matt, and Kay. I focused most of my time guiding, and Karyn managed to catch 3 or 4 fish—one on a #16 bead head flashback pheasant tail and the others on a #14 bead head mini-bugger. Matt caught a half dozen or so (his first time ever to fly fish) on a #14 mini bugger; I think he's hooked, both ways! Kay didn't fare well today because of the high water, and a bad ankle prohibited her from wading very far. I caught several using both the bead head flashback pheasant tail and the furnace cockleburr greased and stripped. Fishing was tough; a number of fly fishers crowded us as we were the only ones catching fish.

Wednesday, August 9, 2006

DATE: Wednesday, August 9, 2006

TIME: 9:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 100s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units (no generation prior 5 days)

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, the Pool to Mill Dam Eddy and back

HATCH: Some few midges and occasional caddis flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 tan Norfork River scud, #20 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: Wayne and I fished together. I witnessed the most awesome morning of fishing I've ever seen. Wayne caught, measured, photographed, and released 7 straight browns over 20 inches. He played all the fish extremely well, and each was beautifully marked. I photographed him holding each fish. This was a morning that if you didn't see it with your own eyes, you would not have believed it. My, oh my! I managed to catch a dozen and a half rainbows and cutthroats, with the largest maybe a mere 16 inches. All of my fish were caught on tan scud, except two which were caught stripping a #20 furnace cockleburr. Here are photos of some of Wayne’s fish.