Good Fishing, Tough Catching

TIME: 12:00 PM to2:00 PM

WEATHER:  Cloudy, slight breeze, low 50s
WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units
LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Island above Ackerman Handicap Access
HATCH:  Midges
ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite
FLIES USED:   Wayne’s Fly (Olive and Black), Cerise Worm, #20 Kay’s Gray
OTHER:  Fished with Wayne.  Returned to the uppermost riffle on river left at the top of the island above Ackerman Handicap Access.  I caught a 3 fish in the riffle on a Cerise Worm, then switched to a Kay’s Gray to take advantage of surface feeding fish.  I managed a couple of fish before another fisher walked in just about 10 yards downstream, severely limiting my long drift.  It rally torqued me that he was so close, and as I was leaving he said he wanted to fish the riffle.  I told him he was crowding me, life was too short to be stressed about it, and that I hoped he had a good day.  I moved downstream to an area not known for holding fish, and continued fishing the Kay’s Gray, taking a couple on top and 4 more pulling the fly under at the beginning of the swing and stripping it back.  It was not a bad afternoon, but I had to work for all the fish.

Fishing with the Master, Again

TIME: 1:00 PM to3:00 PM

WEATHER:  Cloudy, slight breeze, mid 50s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units, high and turbid from recent rains

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Island above Ackerman Handicap Access

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   Wayne’s Fly (Olive and Black)

OTHER:  Fished with the master, my friend Wayne.  I have struggled the last few weeks fishing upstream.  Wayne and I walked in at the top of the island above Ackerman Handicap Access and Wayne hooked up on his first cast.  This was to be one of many fish he caught in the brief afternoon; he finished the day with 3 dozen, including one grand slam, and 3/4 of another.  Though he hasn’t fished since March, he is a fishing machine.  I caught a few in the riffle at the top of the island, but missed many more stripping Wayne’s fly.  The fish seemed to be near the top, and were hitting the fly on the swing as it was being stripped.  I moved downstream to the riffle across from Ol’ Charlie’s and caught a few more, then saw Wayne round the bottom of the island and he was catching fish every cast.  The closer we waded toward each other, the more fish I caught.  I accused him of rubbing something on his clothes before going fishing.  He was fishing a Wayne’s fly/bead combination, but only about 18 inches below an indicator.  I immediately added a bead, and shortened my indicator and the fishing picked up considerably.  Several other people were fishing nearby, but were perplexed at the numbers of fish Wayne was catching.  That big scud of his really works!

If you haven’t seen the rock work done across from Ol’ Charlie’s, you’re in for a surprise.  As a 40+ year practicing water resources engineer and longtime fly fisher, I’ll keep my opinion to myself, but will assure you that the river will change dramatically in the next few months—for worse or better depending on your perspective and what you consider aesthetically pleasing!  I can also tell you that if the US Army Corps of Engineers had done the work in a similar fashion, they would be sued from here to eternity by the AR Game and Fish Commission, the US Fish and Wildlife Service, AR DEQ, and the US EPA.  Enough said!

No Mo Mo Jo?

TIME: 1:00 PM to3:30 PM

WEATHER:  Cloudy, misty, slight breeze, mid 50s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to 2nd Riffle above the Island below McClellan’s

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   #14 Norfork River Scud (Olive), Wayne’s Fly (Olive, Brown, and Black)

OTHER:  Fished solo.  Mill Dam Eddy produced only one hook-up and I missed the fish.  I fished the right descending bank along the island, but nothing.  At the top of the island, I continued wading upstream, fishing the right descending bank in the “what used to be” surefire riffle, but nothing.  I crossed to the left descending bank near the head of the riffle where I have always caught fish, but caught nothing.  I then waded upstream, changed from the scud to Wayne’s fly, fished the rather small riffle, and pulled three fish from there.  It took over an hour of fishing to catch that first fish.  I moved back downstream to the riffle where I have always caught fish, but again, nothing.  Continuing to wade downstream on the left descending bank, I fished the pool above the island and caught 3 more fish before finally breaking off on a rock.  I called it quits and waded for home. 

Guess I’ve Lost the Touch

TIME: 11:45 AM to1:45 PM

WEATHER:  Clear, mid 60s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to Riffle above the Island

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   #14 Norfork River Scud (Olive), Wayne’s Fly (Olive), and #20 Red/Silver Zebra Midge

OTHER:  Fished solo.  This is going to seem like a stuck record.  Mill Dam Eddy produced absolutely nothing, not even a bite.  I fished the right descending bank along the island, but again, nothing.  At the top of the island, I crossed to the left descending bank but caught nothing in the pool above the island, then moved to the riffle above the island below McClellan’s and caught several, mostly small fish—more than at anytime the last few weeks.  I then wades upstream and fished the next rather small riffle and pulled a couple from there, then worked across the river, fished the plunge pool below Ace-in-the-Hole, but did nothing there.   I waded and fished my way downstream, but didn’t even get a bite.

The river is really funky right now, with an odor and discoloration.  Folks camped at Quarry Park say its coming from Dry Run Creek.  Also, significant river work is occurring at the island across from Ol’ Charlie’s, with trucks and other heavy equipment using the river bottom for a haul road to dump huge boulders to “protect” the island.  It is my opinion as a 40+ year experienced water resources engineer that this will do absolutely nothing to protect or enhance the fishery, and in fact will have a net negative consequence.  Because of this work, expect to see more bank caving and instability in the area; I guarantee this will happen. I wonder if the US Army Corps of Engineers were doing the same thing to protect humans if they would not be sued and tied up in court!  Seems like we have our priorities wrong.  As neighbors, we weren’t given a warning, notification, or an opportunity to comment on environmental impacts. Oh, well!

Tough Fishing on the Norfork

TIME: 11:45 AM to 2:45 PM

WEATHER:  Clear, mid 60s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

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

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   #14 Norfork River Scud (Olive), Wayne’s Fly (Olive), and #20 Red/Silver Zebra Midge

OTHER:  Fished solo.  Mill Dam Eddy produced absolutely nothing, not even a bite.  I fished the right descending bank along the island, but again, nothing.  At the top of the island, I crossed to the left descending bank but caught nothing in the pool above the island, then moved to the riffle above the island below McClellan’s and caught a few, mostly small fish.  A drift boat had stopped for lunch and fishing and fished the right riffle, but I only saw the three of them catch one fish.  Consequently, I did not fish the that riffle.  I did cross there after they left and worked my way up to Ace-in-the-Hole, but again, did nothing there.   Crossing back again to the left side, I fish all the way up to near McClellan’s (as far as I could walk), then back down, and only had one bite, on the scud.  It was a very slow day, but the walking was fun.  

Still Tough Fishing

TIME: 10:45 AM to 1:45 PM

WEATHER:  Clear, mid 50s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Unit

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to Riffle above Island Below McClellan’s

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   #14 Norfork River Scud (Olive), Wayne’s Fly (Olive), and #20 Red/Silver Zebra Midge

OTHER:  Fished solo.  Mill Dam Eddy fished even slower than yesterday, though the water was still dropping.  The right side of the island produced nothing.  I crossed to the left descending bank and caught a few fish in the pool above the island, then moved to the riffle above the island below McClellan’s and caught a few more, mostly small fish.  Fishing as I crossed the riffle produced a few more fish, but they too were small.  The right side of the island gave up a couple of fish.  It was a tough day, but not as brutally cold as yesterday, though more windy.  I did see quite a few fish. 

CONTINUING MY RANT, a call to Generation [(870) 531-4311] this morning indicated that Norfork had 2 generators on since 5 AM, contrary to SWPA schedule of generation (but it hasn’t been accurate over 50% of the time, either).  Further checking showed that generation had ceased about 9 AM, BUT THE CORPS HAD FAILED TO KEEP THEIR PHONE ANSWERING MESSAGE UP TO DATE (this is becoming the norm).  I dressed quickly, and drove to my access.  AGAIN, THIS IS RIDICULUS, and demonstrates an unacceptable level of arrogance, lack of respect, and foreboding service to the public by both the Little Rock District Corps of Engineers and the Southwest Power Administration.  I encourage you to write or call you congressman or senator, making them aware of the issue.  An inquiry from your US congressman and/or senator to the Corps will most likely resolve the problem, particularly if they threaten to suspend operation and maintenance funding! 

A Tough Day, and a Bluegill

TIME: 11:45 AM to 2:45 PM

WEATHER:  Cloudy, high 40s, and very windy

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to Riffle above Island Below McClellan’s

ROD USED:  8’ 9” 5 wt Winston Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED:   #14 Norfork River Scud (Olive), #20 Red/Silver Zebra Midge

OTHER:  Fished solo.  Fished Mill Dam Eddy, but with little success.  Fished the right side of the island above Mill Dam Eddy, but only caught a couple towards the top.  Ace-in-the-Hole produced a few fish with some very hard fishing; I did manage to take a bluegill here, a first for me on the Norfork River.  The riffle above the island below McClellan’s did not yield many fish either, despite some hard fishing. All in all, the afternoon produced about 9 fish, even though I fished harder than on most days.  I did note the water was quite warm to the touch, and “cloudy”.