Too Many People

TIME: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

WEATHER:  Clear, low 60s to mid 80s

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, Below and Above Island below McClellan’s

ROD USED:  8’6” 5 wt Winston JWF

FLIES USED:  Wayne’s Brown Fly, #16 Zebra Midge

HATCHES:  Midges

OTHER:  Fished with Kay, Bootsie, and Bill.  We began in the riffle below the island, but the area had already been fished despite the early hour and the fish were far and few between.  We moved upstream to fish alongside the island, but a fisher rushed down from upstream when he saw us and fished the area.  We waded to the riffle upstream of the island, and there was a fisher in the middle of the riffle, catching lots of fish having worked his way upstream; we had leftovers, and the fishing was tough.  Within a few minutes, some 9 fishers from Fayetteville descended upon us from upstream; too many people for such a short fishing reach.  One took the opportunity to urinate out in the open just across the river from us while another waded downstream and said that catching fish was like taking candy from a baby.  We notice he would wade a short distance upstream, then hurry back downstream.  Then, when one of his buddies came down, he asked them to kick up the bottom when they crossed; he was obviously doing the San Juan shuffle which is highly illegal.  After my anger rose to a high enough level, I yelled to the guys that what they were doing was illegal, and they moved downstream.

Bootsie and Bill waded upstream above all the people and had a decent day.