Monday, July 16, 2012—Lucky is Back

DATE:  Monday, July 16, 2012

TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:15 PM

WEATHER:  Low to mid-80s, partly cloudy

WATER CONDITIONS:  0 Units

LOCATIONS FISHED:  Norfork River, riffle above the Island below McClellan’s downstream to Mill Dam Eddy

FLIES USED:  #20 furnace cockleburr, Olive Wayne’s Fly (aka Lucky), #20 black/red zebra midge

ROD USED:  Winston 8’ 6” 5-weight Winston WT JWF

HATCHES:  Midges, a few crane flies, a few sulphurs

OTHER:  Fished solo.  I walked in at Mill Dam Eddy, waded across the river, walked upstream to the top of the island, waded further across to left descending bank. It felt like some gravel has gotten into my left boot/neoprene sock, so off they came, but nothing fell out.  I checked the boots and the lugs had worn through the insole.  These Orvis boots are over 10 years old, and were only being used for wet wading and boat fishing when waders were required.  They were good boots and are being officially retired today!

After putting the neoprene sock and boot back on, I continued upstream, fishing Wayne’s “Lucky” fly with a black/red zebra midge dropper.  (In talking to Wayne about this absolutely wonderful fly pattern, I told him I often referred to it as a micro sculpin; he laughingly said he just called it Lucky!  Having watched him catch thousands of fish with it, I can see why.)  I caught 3 fishing in this area at the top of the island, but wanted to try the cockleburr.  Wading in between the left and right riffles, I cast a bunch of times, but didn’t get so much as a look.  I waded across to the right descending bank, tied on Lucky with a red/zebra midge dropper and managed a couple more fish, both on Lucky.  Here are a couple of photos, upstream and downstream.  Notice that there are no other fishers.  It’s awesome to have a world-class river all to one’s self!

Wading back across to the island, Lucky was in a zone, and I caught 8 more fish between the top of the island and Mill Dam Eddy. all on Lucky.  A couple of casts at Mill Dam Eddy didn’t produce anything, and the old boots were getting pretty uncomfortable, so the boots and I called it a day.