Charlie’s Nephew

TIME: 6:15 AM TO 9:15 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 1st and 2nd Islands above Ackerman/Handicap Access, Pool below Island below McClellan’s
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 8’ 9” 5 wt Winston LT
HATCHES: Midges, Sulfphurs
OTHER: Fished solo. I managed to get to the river early, but there were already 3 yokels fishing in the vicinity of where I wanted to start. Began fishing below riffle at 2nd island, and caught 6 fish, then moved to 1st island, left bank and caught another half dozen. Moved to right bank and caught a dozen and a half. John Wilson came in bringing a young lady client (about 10 years old) and her father, and asked to fish a respectable distance downstream. I readily agreed and offered the spot I was fishing as well. John and I exchanged observations and flies, and I moved upstream to the pool below the island below McClellan’s. I caught five fish in the pool, including an 18-inch brown that should’ve been 20 inches, but only measured 18; guess the measuring tape shrunk. Left the river at 9:15 AM though still no generation.
TODAY’S RANT: Young teenage man (about 14) had fished in an area near the 1st island, right bank, previous to my fishing there, then moved far upstream, and after several minutes returned fishing off my right shoulder about 15 feet. I was contemplating giving him the spot and setting him up with a Norfork scud, and leaving when he spouted off something about being from Alabama, was Charlie’s (Cook) grand nephew, that this was a riparian river, and implied that I should leave so he could fish. I silently fumed, then said, “Son, you’re on pretty shaky legal grounds regarding riparian rights, and I should know as I helped craft Arkansas water law in the 1980s.” His demeanor changed, he quit fishing and moved back upstream for some adult supervision. (I contracted to University of Arkansas Law School to rewrite and update comprehensive water laws in late 1980s, including testifying for its enactment as an expert witness to the Arkansas legislature.) Too bad, the kid smart-mouthed himself out of a free fly fishing lesson.

Norfork River

TIME: 6:15 AM TO 8:45 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s to Low 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 1st and 2nd Islands above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 10’ 4 wt Winston WT
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished solo. I managed to get to the river even earlier than yesterday, but other fishers began showing up about 6:30 AM. Following the same routine as on June 26, I began fishing near the first island and caught fish practically every cast; most were stockers, but did manage a couple of fish that would go 15 – 16 inches. The fellow downstream was not catching fish, so I let him know I was moving and suggested he move to that spot. I moved across the island and continued catching fish almost every cast, including a couple more in the 15 to 16 inch category. Decided to fish upstream, but noticed the guy fishing the first spot was not catching fish. He was rigged with the right tippet, but had a zebra midge with added weight, and two huge strike indicators. Watching him, I noticed he was not detecting the strike. Offering to help, I rigged him up with a Norfork scud and a stick-on indicator. He missed the first couple of fish, but then began catching with regularity. He was from near Oklahoma City, and seemed to be a nice guy. In fact, he offered the spot back to me which was a surprising gesture after last week. There is hope for human kind! As I was leaving, he asked which guides I would recommend. I named John Wilson, Davy Wotten (he and John Wilson are the two best in my opinion, and Davy is the most underrated guide on the river), and John Gulley, as these are the folks I would hire for the Norfork or White Rivers. Tom and Jeff Hawthorne are unequaled on the Little Red River. While walking upstream, another guy fishing the spot I had just vacated across the island offered the spot back—two in a row—but I thanked him for asking and declined.

I caught four fish below the riffle at the 2nd island, but it was not easy. I then moved upstream above the creek, but struggled, catching only 3 fish, and missing a bunch. Thinking the hook gap had opened (my excuse for missing fish), I replaced the hook , but noticed an elevated sound from the upstream riffle and a subtle difference in the water. Called generation and two had been turned on 45 minutes previously. High tailed it out of the river, having had a very good early morning, and an OK late morning. Still, all in all, I managed to catch over 3 dozen fish, and discovered that some people are still very courteous and friendly (didn’t have any fly by night guides crowding me). It helped to restore my confidence in fly fishers.

By the way, I was in need of some fly tying materials (yeah, I had to convince Kay of that, too) and shopped around locally to no avail. Called Tom at Ozark Angler and he had exactly what I needed (wished I still worked there). Though he is in Little Rock, AR, don’t hesitate to call Ozark Angler and order you fly fishing and fly tying stuff. He can ship the same day. The number is (501) 225-6504.

Norfork River

TIME: 6:30 AM TO 8:45 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s to Low 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 1st and 2nd Islands above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 10’ 4 wt Winston WT
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished solo. I managed to get to the river early, with only a couple of neighbors coming in a little later. Began fishing near the first island and caught fish pretty steady, though most, if not all, had been recently stocked. Moved across the island and continued catching fish with regularity, including a tough fighting sucker. Walked upstream to the 2nd island, and caught maybe a half dozen fish below the riffle, but it wasn’t as easy as it had been the preceding week. I then moved upstream above the creek, but the catch rate declined significantly, with only 5 fish caught. Water began coming up, ending the morning’s fishing with about 30 fish.

Norfork River

TIME: 6:30 AM TO 9:30 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 8’ 9” 5 wt Winston LT
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished solo. Managed to get to the river early, and it was already crowded by the 1st island above Ackerman/Handicap Access. I fished river left at the 2nd island, and caught a lot of fish beginning with the first cast. Immediately, a fellow fishing 300 yards downstream came up and began fishing on top of me. After a few casts, and no strikes, he moved on upstream. Then his friend came in immediately downstream of where I was fishing (maybe 20 to 30 feet), and my drift was almost touching him. I told him he was a little close, and he gave me the lecture about this being his river too. After no fish, he moved downstream, but a local guide who shall remain nameless (he smokes a cigar, his clients NEVER catch many fish, and he’s sort of the laughing stock of good fishers) came in right above me. Holding to his pattern, his client didn’t catch a single fish while I was there. With too many people, I moved upstream above the creek, and began catching fish practically every cast. I hooked one that barely moved, tried to get it on the reel, and it broke me off. It was a very BIG fish. With folks seeing me catch fish, I kept getting surrounded, so surrendered, and called it quits.
Rant for the Day: I am appalled at the lack of ethics in fly fishers and some fly fishing guides. Frankly, I’ve had better luck with “bait chunkers”. I sincerely hope that fly fishing clubs, councils, conclaves, and their leaders take this on as an imperative initiative!

Norfork River

TIME: 6:30 AM TO 8:30 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 1st and 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Furnace Cockleburr
ROD USED: 8’ 9” 5 wt Winston LT
HATCHES: Midges, Sulphurs
OTHER: Fished solo. While I got on the river pretty early, there were already people fishing where Kay and I had done so well the previous day. Consequently, I fished the same spot I fished on May 29, and the fish were still there. I used the #14 Gray Norfork Scud and caught a couple of dozen fish within a relatively small area. There was a good sulphur hatch, but did not see a fish rise to the sulphurs.

Norfork River

TIME: 7:00 AM TO 9:30 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 1st and 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Furnace Cockleburr
ROD USED: 8’ 9” 5 wt Winston LT
HATCHES: Midges, Sulphurs
OTHER: Fished with Kay. Set Kay up where I caught fish on May 29, but she couldn’t entice any to take the fly. Meanwhile, I moved downstream and fished traditional areas with not a lot of luck. Moved to a totally unlikely area and began catching fish on the #20 furnace cocklebur. Kay came down, rigged up, and began catching fish by stripping the cockleburr fly while I move across the island and downstream. I saw lots of fish staging near the bottom of the island, and caught several fish stripping the cockleburr fly. Move upstream to another traditional riffle, and found a sweet spot downstream several yards from where the fish usually lay, and managed to catch several more. Moved upstream to the area where Kay initially fished and caught several more. We had had a very good morning, and the river is fishing better than ever IF YOU CAN FIND THE FISH because they are not where they used to be.

The Flood of April 2008

DATE: June 12, 2008
TIME: 8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Furnace Cockleburr
ROD USED: 8’ 9” 5 wt Winston LT
HATCHES: Midges, Sulphurs
OTHER: Fished solo. It had been several months since I last fished the Norfork largely due to historic floods in March and April. More about that later. I began fishing the furnace cockleburr to some subtle rises, but no takers. Switched to several other flies, but again, no takers. Finally tied on the gray scud, and caught one; moved downstream and found the fish, and managed to catch about a dozen in the same spot, including a 16 incher. All the fish were rainbows. Called generation number and USACE had turned on 1 generator, so I quit for the day. It was great to find the river fishing very good after the flood.

The historic April flood was the result of 83,000 cubic feet per second being released from Norfork Dam in combination with White River backwater. Norfork Lake reached its highest level, by several feet, ever. In fact, Kay and I witnessed water coming over the gates. In some reservoir systems, that would be significant cause for concern as it could result in torquing of the gates, but the Little Rock District of the US Army Corps of Engineers assured me, BEFORE HAND, that there was not a dam safety problem (I was formerly the Dam Safety Officer for the Little Rock District). These photos were taken 17 hours before the peak. Kay and I could stand on our patio and hear the water spilling from the reservoir. We spent all day helping, as best we could, neighbors frantically and fruitlessly protect their property. The combination of reservoir releases combined with concurrent flood on the White River caused by intense rain in the Buffalo River basin was too much for the river to withstand. It could have handled the reservoir releases within top banks, but when hitting the wall of backwater from the White, there was nothing left to do but flow overbank. It seems the Corps' water management plan was implemented without waiver, and the inflexibility and/or inability to change or modify implementation of the plan by the US Army Corps of Engineers resulted in many properties getting flooded that might not have otherwise done so if some variation had been executed. I recall seeing that lake levels reached 583 feet. The flood scoured the river, rearranged islands, deposited gravel in some areas, flood adjacent property, and destroyed many trees and river bank areas. Most of the silt has disappeared, and stream bottom vegetation is doing well. In fact, I picked up Norfork River moss on the fly for the first time in many years. From a fishing perspective, the net effect of the flood will prove to be very positive.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 6

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, howling southeastern wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: None
ROD USED: None
HATCHES: None
OTHER: It blew and rained all night, with winds blowing a near constant 25 mph, and gusting to 40 mph, with rain all night long. I was concerned about a tree blowing down on the tent! It continued to blow until late morning, and we were preparing to spend an extra night in the wilderness as there was concern about the shuttle boats being able to pick us up. The wind abated slightly about 10:30 AM, we broke camp, and proceeded to the pickup point. About halfway, the wind shifted out of the south and increased in velocity. We hug the south shoreline paddling out, and except for paddling across to the pickup point, made it OK, though taking on some water during the paddle. It took us some 2-1/2 hours in the tow boat, bucking high seas and wind the entire way, and taking water head-on on several occasions. Nevertheless, the paddle was nothing compared to last year. Oh well, another one for the books.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 5

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 7 wt Orvis
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: Ron and I fished together this morning. For us it was a morning from hell as I forgot the flies, and Ron’s spinning reel “bird nested”. Rather than fight the awfulness, we returned to the campsite, did our morning “chore”, and collected our thoughts and patience. We returned to fishing, but the fish did not cooperate. Ron, paddling from the front seat, “guided” me to the point just west of our campsite, and I caught a 6 lb 10 oz smallmouth on a gray/white Clouser using the 9’ 7 wt Orvis.

It was the hardest fighting smallmouth I ever caught, sounding immediately after the hookset. After measuring and photographing the fish, we released it and returned to the camp.
I paddled Joe in the afternoon, all the way into North Bay and near the portage. He caught his first smallmouth on a fly rod, and proceeded to catch several more. While these were little fish to Joe compared to his 7-1/2 pounder earlier in the week, they provided great fly rod action.

He “guided” me as well, and I caught several.
Ron fished for lake trout with Harry, and caught an 8 or 9 pounder. Harry caught two huge fish, with one going about 18 pounds.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada - Day 4

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: An unbelievable morning ensued. I paddled Ed around Big Bass Island. He immediately began catching fish far off the point of the island, and continued to catch fish almost every cast on his spinning rod, including his 2nd board fish in 12 hours. He switched to the 9’ 6 wt Winston with a gray/white Clouser and continued catching one fish after the other, including his 3rd board fish in 12 hours.

It was unreal. As an added treat we observed an otter family of three eating a crawfish or something similar.

Mary had offered to paddle Dave and he graciously gave up his spot to Joe, and Joe proceeded to catch a 7-1/2 pound smallmouth on spinning tackle. That’s the largest our group has ever caught. Outfitted in a Santa hat brought special for the occasion, he had his picture made holding this world-class smallmouth to be used as his 2008 Christmas card. There was considerable discuss about voting Joe off the island, but he's such a nice guy we decided unanimously to make him our camp mascot for the year. If you are keeping up, this makes 6 board fish thus far. Ron, using spinning gear, caught his first board fish as well, making 7 for the group.

I paddled Ron in the afternoon, and we tried the area southeast of the Narrows, but with the same luck as Joe and I had earlier in the week—few fish. John Simank caught his 2nd board fish using spinning tackle, making 8 for the group thus far.
After a hard day's fishing, Ed relaxed in his royal throne, the one and only chair ever brought to the "island", achieved when he surpassed a major threshold which shall remain confidential.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada - Day 3

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: I paddled Joe in the AM; he only caught a few fish, though he fished hard, and we were in a good spot (southeast of the Narrows). It wasn't Joe's fault, the fish were just not cooperating for us. Ed paddled me in the afternoon, south of Blueberry Island; it rained on us the entire time. I fished hard, but only managed 3 fish.
Ed fished off the point just before bedtime Tuesday evening, and did a “George” by catching a board fish, hollering for the net, then hollering for the measuring tape. George may be gone, but he is not forgotten.

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 2

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind, some rain
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: I paddled Ed in the AM; he caught a dozen or more on a gray/white clouser. Harry paddled me in the PM and I caught about 15 on a gray/white clouser, including 3 large fish, but none over 5 pounds. Harry had one “blow up” on a popper, but no catches. John and Joe each caught “board” fish, i.e. over 5 pounds.
We saw a first on this trip, Mary cooking over Harry's fire. Isn't this a NO NO?

The Northwoods has unexplainable beauty, and just grabs you in the gut. You can't help but feel awed when enjoying the many lakes and islands.

Basswood Lake, Quetico Wilderness, ON

WEATHER: PC, Low 50s, wind

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees

LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake

FLIES USED: #6 Gray Hard Body Popper

ROD USED: 9’ 8wt Winston

HATCHES: Mayflies

OTHER: Harry guided me and Kay this morning, and we fished the south bank across from the camp island. I caught 4 smallmouth bass and 1 pike, all on the popper. It was a very slow morning. This was to be the last fishing for me on this trip as I paddled the remainder of the trip because of wind.

Breakfast: Early morning cookie, followed by fishing, then biscuits, gravy, ham, pork chops, and hashbrowns

Lunch: Snack bars, candy bars

Dinner: Pan fried bass filets, cornbread, mixed beans, and apple cobbler

Quetico Wilderness, Canada – Day 1

WEATHER: PC, Low 70s, light wind
WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, about 50 degrees
LOCATIONS FISHED: Basswood Lake, Quetico Wilderness, Canada
FLIES USED: #6 Gray/White Clouser
ROD USED: 9’ 6 wt Winston
HATCHES: Mayflies
OTHER: Boated and paddled into Basswood Lake this morning with our annual crew, Harry and Mary, John, Dave, and myself. Absent this year were Kay and George, both missing their first trip. New to the group were Ron and Joe. Intense rain in September 2007 combined with heavy winter snows, and a 30-inch April snow resulted in the lake being a couple feet higher than we have experienced. Our “island” campsite suffered some damage over the winter.

While Harry and Mary set up camp, we took off fishing. With water temperatures at or near 50 degrees, it was useless fishing a popper, slider, or diver. Since this was Ron’s first trip, I paddled him and he caught 3 smallmouth using a 7 weight Orvis and a gray and white clouser, including one that would easily go 4 pounds.

I fished sparingly from the back of the canoe.