Monday, June 24, 2013—3 Spell Trouble in River City

DATE:  Monday, June 24, 2013
TIME:  8:00AM TO 1:30 PM

WEATHER:  Low 90s, partly cloudy, windy

WATER CONDITIONS:  1 unit

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Quarry Park Access to Island at Ol’ Charlie’s

FLIES USED:  #14 Weight Fly, #14 cerise San Juan Worm

ROD USED:  Winston 9’ 6-weight BXT

HATCHES:  Midges, sulphur

OTHER:  I fished with Ed and John.  There’s always trouble when the three of us fish together—entanglements of fishing line, leader, and tippet; casting over another’s line; and lots of long distant releases.  One never knows what will happen, but you can be sure it will always be fun times.

We launched at Quarry Park Access, Ed drove to the White River Access at Norfork and parked the trailer, and Kay shuttled Ed back to Quarry Park.

The Resort Hole produced nothing.  The Long Hole, however, produced at least a fish on every drift.  Ed started out like gangbusters, but the action slowed for him, and I only picked up a few on the Weight Fly.  More and more “guide” boats ended up drifted the Long Hole, and it became too crowded for us.  The pool below the Upper Riffle at McClellan’s to just above McClellan’s proved to be a good area, particularly for John as he pulled at least one fish in on every drift.  We moved further down, and the pool below McClellan’s produced nothing.  The wind really picked up just before noon, and made keeping the boat on a good drift line near impossible.  The pool below Mill Dam Eddy fished very poorly, with only a few fish caught.

Based on past experiences fishing the Norfork with generation, today proved to be a very slow day.

Thursday, June 20, 2013—Not A Repeat, And A Bonus Recipe

TIME:  8:30 AM to 12:35 PM

WEATHER:  Mid-80s to low 90s, partly sunny, windy

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy, to near McClellan's

FLIES USED:  #14 gray Norfork River Scud, #16 black/copper Zebra Midge, #20 black/silver Zebra Midge, #14 pink Cockleburr

ROD USED: 8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES: Midges, a few Caddis, Sulphurs

OTHER:  I fished solo.  Shedding the fly fishing vest in favor of a small Mayfly necklace pack, I felt "nekkid", and missed the several hundred flies normally carried.  Also, tried a different floatant, and found that I did not like it as much as what I had been using.  Again this morning, the river valley was shrouded in mist, and the sun was not yet high enough to begin burning it off.  Wading to the top of the island, and then upstream along the left descending bank, I caught only a couple of fish in the pool between the island and the riffle; the fish were not rising to the surface and sipping insects like yesterday, and the mist may have kept the fish down. I bypassed my favorite riffle and waded upstream to the end of the gravel, and then further towards McClellan's.  This area produced lots of fish last year on the gray scud, but this year has not been productive!  I caught two more fish at the top of the gravel. 

(The photo is looking upstream from the gravel at Otter Creek.)  Two and a half hours of fishing a scud/zebra midge combination produced only 4 fish, and no big fish!

Wading back downstream and switching to a pink Cockleburr, I fished the riffle above the island (my favorite), and took only a few fish, but there definitely were not as many fish there as last week.  It appears that when a small area is fished really hard for several consecutive days, the fish will either stay down, or leave, and this area has been pounded the last 6 days from daylight to high water.  I did note a large number of fish holding in the funnel at the top of the island—could they be from the riffle?

The chute along the island did not produce any fish, though I had several misses and refusals, until the last tree downstream leaning over the chute (in the photo, water is flowing from right to left).   Typically, this area does not produce fish except for September when it is loaded.  However, the last couple of days has been different.

From there, immediately under the downstream overhang of the tree shown here (3 fish were caught at the overhang within a 4-foot diameter area) and for the next hundred yards, I caught at least half dozen fish—mostly rainbows, and one cutthroat and one brookie.  The cutthroat was about 10-12 inches long, so likely not one hatched from the eggs put in last year.

Mill Dam Eddy was the hot spot today, yielding about a dozen fish, all on the pink Cockleburr.  Several fish hit the fly as it was stripped back.  

PINK COCKLEBURR

HOOK:  Tiemco 100BL Dry Fly Hook (or similar), Size #14-#20  (I use #14 exclusively)

THREAD:  UFC Red, Size 140

BODY:  Pink All Purpose Rabbit Dubbing with guard hair

HACKLE:  Ginger, oversized by 2 sizes (e.g. #10 hackle for a #14 fly)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Lay a base of thread on the hook.
2. Tie in hackle at the gape of the hook (above the barb, if hook is barbed).
3. Sparsely apply dubbing via noodle, or splitting the thread, technique and wrap forward to about two eye lengths behind the back of the hook eye and tie off.
4. Palmer hackle to about two eye lengths behind the back of the hook eye and tie off.
5. Whip finish.

HOW TO FISH THE COCKLEBURR:

1. Fish the Cockleburr as a dry fly, applying floatant (particularly after every hook-up), and casting to rises or emerging fish.
2. Fish the Cockleburr as an emerger by casting the fly quartering downstream, pulling it under, and stripping back in 2-inch strips; you’ll feel the fish hit.
3. Employ a combination of the above two techniques, pulling the fly under after its drag-free drift, and stripping back.

NOTE:  This fly was featured in the fly fishing column in our local newspaper, the Baxter Bulletin, last year about this time.  The author, a local guide whom I've known almost 20 years, was having difficulty hooking-up fish, and I offered him my spot at the riffle, giving him this fly and suggesting he use it, on the condition of silence—asking him to swear secrecy about the pattern and his using it—to no avail as it was in the paper the next week.  It is effective from mid-May until mid-September, and is particularly effective during a crane fly hatch. 

Wednesday, June 19, 2013—It Doesn't Get Much Better Than This

TIME:  7:45 AM to 11:10 AM

WEATHER:  Mid-70s, sunny

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy, to Plunge Pool below Ace in the Hole

FLIES USED:  #14 gray Norfork River Scud, #20 black/silver Zebra Midge, #14 pink Cockleburr, #16 Parachute Sulphur Dun

ROD USED: 8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES: Midges, a solitary Caddis, Sulphurs

OTHER:  I fished solo.  At 7:45 AM, the river valley was shrouded in mist, and the sun was not yet high enough to begin burning it off.  A few casts along the island with the scud/midge combination did not result in any looks.  At the top of the island, I waded upstream along the left descending bank, and noted the fisher I rescued yesterday occupying the riffle above the island.  He has fished there 6 consecutive days, and is not catching fish—most likely the fish are either holding tight, or have left the area.  There were sipping fish in the pool between the island and the riffle, and one immediately struck the gray scud; the action did not slow after switching to the pink Cockleburr.  Upstream of the riffle at the top of the Plunge Pool, fish either sipped or hammered the pink Cockleburr with several coming out of the water and down on the fly.  The Plunge Pool yielded a dozen and a half fish.  After crossing the river, walking back downstream, and re-crossing it again, I fished the right chute adjacent to the island, and was surprised to find a decent sulphur hatch and fish rising to them.  After several fish were caught on the pink Cockleburr, a #16 Parachute Sulphur Dun was tied on, but did not even get a look.  Back to the pink cockleburr and the fish hit, some with a ferocity I'd never seen.  One 16-inch rainbow turned and swam about 4 feet before slamming the fly.  The chute produced fish on dry flies the entire length of the island, a first for me.  For some reason, the fish would not strike a fly cast upstream and drifted down, but would hit the fly when dead drifted downstream.  The chute produced at least a dozen and a half fish, maybe more!  At Mill Dam Eddy, the fish were sipping insects but proved to be a tough catch in the clear, slow moving water.  I did manage to catch a few small fish, and then an 18-inch rainbow gently sucked in the pink Cockleburr beside the tree in the middle of the river—an almost imperceptible take—and immediately sounded.  Putting as much pressure on the line as it could stand, the fish yielded and came over the log without spitting the fly.  Regrettably, the memory card was left out of the camera, so no photographs, but it is the largest fish of the year…so far.  Todays fish were a mixed bag, and included 3 browns and a couple of cutthroats.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013—Caught, Again!

TIME:  8:30 AM to 10:45 AM

WEATHER:  Mid-70s, overcast

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units increasing to 1 unit

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to Below McClellan's

FLIES USED:  #14 gray Norfork River scud, #20 black/silver Zebra Midge, #14 pink Cockleburr, #20 Dunn's Dun

ROD USED:  8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES:  Midges

OTHER:  I fished solo.  After walking across Mill Dam Eddy, and then upstream to the tailout of the riffle above the island, I began casting the pink Cockleburr.  I missed several fish, which held on the fly only momentarily.  The fellow who crowded Ed on Thursday was fishing the riffle, and I gave hime plenty of space; he told me the fishing would pick up when the caddis started coming off; I nodded, but did not say anything!  The plunge pool below Ace in the Hole did not yield any fish, despite several near hook-ups.  One fish succumbed to the Zebra Midge near the walnut tree.  I waded all the way above Otter Creek towards McClellan's as far as water depth would allow; the usual great fishing did not occur there this morning.  Wading back downstream just above the gravel, I caught several fish, including a nice 16+ inch rainbow.  Across from Otter Creek, I noted the water had a little more velocity as the strike indicator was moving a wee bit faster.  Upon further inspection, the water had risen about 4 inches—with generation beginning an hour earlier than scheduled.  (It sure makes one touchy about taking chances!)  I immediately reeled in and began walking/running downstream, crossing at the bottom of the gravel with water near the top of my waders.  Continuing downstream, I notified the lone fisher who had crowded Ed, despite my wanting him to learn a lesson, and he insisted on following me downstream.  We waded along the right descending bank, with him grabbing hold of my arm unexpectedly; I asked him to grab my belt instead.  He insisted on trespassing to get out, but lost his way and ended up back where he started.  I admonished him about trespassing, made sure he knew I could not grant permission, and shuttled him to the access—you can't fix stupid.  He profusely apologized for crowding Ed and being disrespectful to him; I remained silent as he knew I was thinking I just saved his (explicit language).

I had a slow day, taking only a half dozen fish, most on the gray Norfork River Scud, but had a good time until it was cut short.

Y'all be careful out there.

Monday, June 17, 2013--It Helps To Have The Right Fly

TIME:  8:30 AM to 10:15 AM

WEATHER:  Mid-70s, overcast

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

FLIES USED:  #14 olive Norfork River scud, #20 red/silver Zebra Midge, #16 Parachute Sulphur Dun, #14 pink Cockleburr

ROD USED:  8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES:  Midges, Caddis, Sulphurs, Craneflies

OTHER:  I fished solo across from Wayne's.  The river was shrouded in mist when I arrived and the mist did not lift all morning.  No action occurred on the scud/midge combination, but there was an occasional gulping of midges on the surface.  Taking a chance, I put on the pink Cockleburr and immediately hooked up with a nice 16-inch rainbow.  A few fish were caught in the near riffle, but most hit in the fly when cast to the riffle on the left descending bank.  About half of the dozen and a half fish I caught were in the 16-inch range, including one brown and one cutbow; the others were rainbows.  Observing an occasional sulphur, I switched to a Parachute Sulphur Dun, but received no action.  Switching back to the pink Cockleburr, the fish resumed attacking the fly.  One fish porpoised onto the fly and was close enough that it was pretty exciting as I saw the whole thing up close and personal.  With both rain and generation forecast later in the morning, and with mist covering the river, I only fished less than a couple of hours, taking a photo of the last fish of the day with a Cockleburr in its mouth.  On the way walking out, I saw a large number of pipe vine swallowtail butterflies clustered on the ground, ending a short, but great morning.

Friday, June 14, 2013—A Great Day Boat Fishing the White River

TIME:  8:00 AM to 2:30 PM

WEATHER:  Low 90s, sunny

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units, falling water

LOCATIONS FISHED:  White River, Upstream of Cartney Access

FLIES USED:  #14 Weight Fly, #14 San Juan Worm, #14 Egg, Brown Wayne's Fly 

ROD USED:  8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES:  Midges

OTHER:  I fished with Ed and John.  We left John's house about 7:15 AM, drove to Sneed's Creek, but water was roaring.  We drove back upstream to Cartney Access and noted falling water.  After launching, John skippered us upstream a couple of miles and Ed was into fish immediately, mostly on an egg pattern.  It didn't take long for me to switch, but he was in a zone and was catching fish, seemingly every drift.  We made a couple of long drifts, and we all caught fish.  John and I switched places so I could learn to use the new Honda outboard motor.  Ed remained in a fish-catching zone the rest of the day, catching fish at will, almost all on the egg pattern.  As usual, we all had a great day fishing with lots and lots of laughter.  It was good to be fishing with these guys again.

On our return, the water had dropped so much that it was difficult motoring back to the ramp.  This is great water to fish, but one must exercise caution motoring upstream (or anywhere near the ramp) during low water.

Thursday, June 13, 2013--Fishing Again

TIME: 8:00 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-80s, sunny

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy, to Ace in the Hole

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River Scud, #20 red/black Zebra Midge, #14 pink Cockleburr, #16 Parachute Sulphur Dun

ROD USED: 8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES: Midges, a few Caddis, a few Sulphurs, Craneflies

OTHER:   This was my first time fishing since November 2012, and first time serious fishing since September 2012: I simply had had enough.  But, one knows when it's time to get back on the water and today was the day.  I fished with long-time fishing companions Ed and John.  Along with Wayne, I have fish with Ed and John for about 20 years, and the three are among my closest fishing friends.

Ed and I walked upstream to the riffle and pool above the island, fishing a double-rigged setup on falling water, with little success.  After the mist burned off, a small midge hatch began and fish started rising to the insects.  I tried various flies, before finally remembering that the pink Cockleburr had been effective this time of year in the past.  After tying one one, so to speak, I was rewarded with a hook-up.  Though not rapid fire, the fish were taking the fly with frequency.  Ed moved up to the dead water between the cross riffles and had success with a two-fly nymph set-up, and also on dries.  I moved upstream to the plunge pool below Ace in the Hole, and caught about 8 fish on the pink Cockleburr, all on top.  Ace in the hole produced no fish, even with the Norfork River scud and midge pupa rig.  I returned to the riffle above the island beside Ed and had limited success on a parachute Sulphur Dun.  On our way downstream, the first tree produced a fish on a black/red Zebra midge dropped below a Norfork River scud.  For the day, I had a couple of dozen fish, all rainbows except for one cutbow.

Not having fishing in so many months, it was easy to see subtle changes in the river, with more gravel on the bottom, and seemingly more shallow water.  Also, the fish were hotter than I remember, and all fought hard.  

Saturday, June 8, 2013--Karyn Remembers How to Catch Fish

TIME: 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM

WEATHER:  Mid-80s, sunny

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, #20 black/copper zebra midge

ROD USED: 8’ 6” 5-wt Winston JWF

HATCHES: Midges

OTHER: I did not fish but "guided" Karyn and Matt.  We arrived late in the fishing day, and the water had been heavily fished prior to our arriving.  However, Karyn hooked-up right away, and continued to catch fish the remainder of the afternoon.  She's a natural fly fisher, both casting and mending well.  Matt regrettably had to fish left-over water, but did catch several fish, though he was not in Karyn's zone.