An 18-inch Rainbow and a Grand Slam

DATE:  Thursday, December 22, 2011

TIME: 12:00 PM TO 3:30 PM

WEATHER: Low to mid-40s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Mill Dam Eddy to below McClellan’s dock and return

FLIES USED:  #16 olive Norfork River scud, #16 red/black zebra midge, #16 black/copper zebra midge

ROD USED: Winston 10’ 4-weight WT

HATCHES: Midges

OTHER: I fished with Wayne, and we had a ball.  It had been some time since we fished together, and we really enjoyed the afternoon.  Immediately after walking in, we fished Mill Dam Eddy.  It fished much slower than yesterday, but I did catch 3 fish, all on the red/black zebra midge.  Wading upstream along the island, I noticed other fishers already at the top of the island, but continued anyway.  There were 4 fishers at and below the riffle above the island, but none were catching fish.  I caught 3 fish in the pool above the island, and the other fishers left, wading downstream.  Wayne waded up and we decided to fish our way to the wide water, i.e. near Otter Creek.  Fishing proved slow, though I caught 4 in Ace in the Hole.  I didn’t catch any more wading upstream, though Wayne picked up a fish here and there.  Above Otter Creek, I noticed that water was flowing both left and right of the land mass that had been forming in the river, so on a whim, I cast far to river left, and picked up a fish.  I waded further upstream, fishing river left, and caught a total of a dozen fish.  By that time, I had waded to within 75 yards of the island across from the location of McClellan’s Dock.  Wading back downstream, I fished Ace in the Hole and the plunge pool and picked up a few fish, then fished the riffle above the island, picking up one more.  I finished the day with slightly over two dozen fish, and a grand slam.  It was so much fun fishing with Wayne again, and I consider it one of my best times fishing.

NOTE: Continuing to post regarding the healing of the river, today, the two channels at the end of the island at Mill Dam Eddy had become one wider channel, and a small channel has opened to spill into the pool on river left immediately at the tip of the island.  The river continues to “heal” and is returning, somewhat, back to what it was pre-flood.  Also, as I noted above, water is flowing both right and left of the land mass above Otter Creek.  I anticipate that the left hand side will eventually close and all flow will return to the right side.