Good Day, but Small Fish

DATE: Wednesday, 6/29/2005

TIME: 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM

WEATHER: Low 90s to high 90s, clear, calm

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: White River, 1^st riffle at Rim Shoals

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #20 olive cockleburr, #14 beaded San Juan worm

OTHER: I fished with Ed and Phillip. Water was failing upon our arrival. I caught 5 fish immediately on the #14 beaded San Juan worm, then switched to dry flies, with no significant luck. Finally, I began casting about 65 feet quartering downstream with #20 olive cockleburr, then stripping back. I ended the day catching fish on 4 consecutive casts; there was no appreciable size to the fish. Ed and Phillip were fishing a “big ugly” dry fly and caught several fish each, on top. The fish absolutely smashed the fly!

Tiny Black Midges

DATE: Tuesday, 6/28/2005

TIME: 7:30 AM to 9:00 AM

WEATHER: Low 90s to high 90s, clear, calm

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy

HATCH: Tiny black midges

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #20 olive cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Ed and Phillip, and Mill Dam Eddy was packed with 3 of us plus John Gulley and 3 clients. Fish were midging, and taking midge clusters on the water. The #20 olive cockleburr was effective, as was a #22 Sproat midge in black. I had to leave after a short while, but Ed and Phillip caught fish most of the morning. I did not fish with them in the afternoon, but they fished Rim Shoals late in the afternoon with some “big ugly” flies (sorry, I can't reveal the pattern, but it was BIG), and caught several fish on top.

Ed Break’s the Code

DATE: Monday, 6/27/2005

TIME: 10:30 AM to 2:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 90s to high 90s, clear, calm

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

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

HATCH: Sulphurs, crane flies

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT; Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

FLIES USED: #14 sulphur, #14 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Ed and Phillip. Fishing was TOUGH. Parachute sulphurs brought some fish to the surface at the riffle above the island below McClellan's (Ed broke the code on the pattern). At Mill Dam Eddy, the #14 cockleburr was taking fish on the surface as well as stripped. Both Ed and Phillip caught fish. Generation began and ran us off the river.

Fishing Dry Flies

DATE: Tuesday, 6/21/2005

TIME: 8:30 AM to 10:00 AM

WEATHER: Mid-80 to high 80s, clear, calm

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy

HATCH: Very small black midges

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

FLIES USED: #14 furnace cockleburr

OTHER: I fished with Wayne. Upon arrival at Mill Dam Eddy, fish were rising like crazy just downstream of the stickup, near where the tree hangs over the water. The fish were midging, and frankly, taking just about anything hitting the water. Well, they hit the #14 furnace cockleburr like crazy. I managed to take a large cutthroat, about 21 inches, and 3 rainbows about 16 inches. I did not fish but about 1-1/2 hours as I had consulting work to do. Pictures of two of the fish are shown.

Our Last Day in Quetico, 2005

DATE: Friday, 6/10/2005

TIME: 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-50s to low 80s, mostly cloudy, rain

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Olive green, two-toned #6 hard body foam popper

OTHER: Today was our last day in camp. We awoke to an amazing sunrise, but the weather would change. Ed "guided" me in the morning before we broke camp. Rain returned for our paddle and shuttle back to civilization. We sure carry a lot of stuff for a one-week trip. It was fun, but the rain most of the week dampened our spirits, and took a little bit of the glitter off this otherwise great annual trip.

A Day of Sunshine

DATE: Thursday, 6/9/2005

TIME: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Mid-40s to mid-70s, mostly sunny

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Olive green, two-toned #6 hard body foam popper

OTHER: I fished (i.e. paddled) with Ed. The weather finally changed—for the better. We had an extended period of sun today, and the bass began hitting the poppers on top. Ed managed to catch a nice smallmouth of the tip of the island. There were a lot of smiles in camp tonight.

Still Raining

DATE: Wednesday, 6/8/2005

TIME: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 40s to low 50s, cloudy, rain

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Root beer Gitzit

OTHER: It’s still cold and wet, but fishing has improved somewhat. This is the worst weather year so far in the four years our group has come to Quetico Wilderness. Nevertheless, we make the most of the situation.

Despite the Rain, A Big Fish

DATE: Tuesday, 6/7/2005

TIME: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 40s to high 40s, cloudy, rain

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Root beer Gitzits

OTHER: It is raining almost constantly, and cold; will this rain ever quit? Despite the rain, we fished today—it was either fish and be cold, or stay in camp and be cold! With no success on popping bugs, I suggested Ed cast a root beer colored gitzit with a sinking tip, and he had moderate success. Then, a 6-pound smallmouth inhaled the fly and Ed landed the first big fish of the trip.

It’s Cold Up Here

DATE: Monday, 6/6/2005

TIME: 7:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Low-40s to mid-50s, mostly cloudy, rain

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Unknown

OTHER: The rain which began yesterday has not let up, creating wet and cold conditions for wilderness canoeing and camping. With 6 of us and a guide couple, we are well-armed for just about any kind of fishing. This was Ed’s first trip to Quetico, at my invitation, and he began to question his decision to come with the cold and wet weather as we spent a lot of time around the fire. While fishing off the tip of the island, Kay did take a nice smallmouth bass which Harry netted for her.

Quetico Wilderness, 2005

DATE: Sunday, 6/5/2005

TIME: 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 50s to mid-60s, cloudy, rain, windy in the afternoon

WATER CONDITIONS: Clear, temperature unknown

LOCATIONS FISHED: Quetico Wilderness, Ontario, Canada—Basswood Lake

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 9’ 7-weight BL5 Joan Wulff Favorite

FLIES USED: Unknown

OTHER: We departed “civilization” early this morning for our annual trip into Quetico Wilderness. George and I shared a canoe, paddling in relative calm water with overcast skies to reach our island home for the next 6 days and 5 nights. Fishing was difficult at best, and there were no takers for popping bugs, or any other surface fly.