Saturday, September 2, 2006

DATE: Saturday, September 2, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s—downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: A few midges and crane flies

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, #14 mini bugger

OTHER: I fished with David, Brian, and Colby. Brian is our daughter's (Jenny) fiancé, David is his father, and Colby is his brother. It was their first time fly fishing for trout. We took about 5 minutes for an instructional casting lesson, and immediately began fishing. Brian ended up in a tough spot, but both Colby and David were positioned to catch fish. David was a good caster and began catching fish on the scud dead drifted in Ed's Hole. Then Colby began catching fish and Brian began getting bites as well. After about two hours, the fish just quit biting, all of a sudden. Then about twenty minutes later, they started again. David moved slightly downstream and took fish in the rather deep chute adjacent to Ace in the Hole. Brian switched to a mini bugger tied with ice dubbing and began getting more consistent bites. Colby moved downstream near his dad and also began getting consistent bites. Several times through the course of the morning, the "Painter" boys had doubles. All of them were somewhat "natural" fishers and did well for their first time out. It was a blast watching them catch lots of trout on a fly rod as first time fly fishers. As a note, the river was packed upstream of the catch and release sign with Labor Day fishers—more than I'd ever seen. I suspect the river got cleaned out.

Friday, September 1, 2006

DATE: Friday, September 1, 2006

TIME: 4:00 PM to 4:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units to substantial generation

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, top of 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access downstream to Cook’s Island

HATCH: None

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #18 elk hair caddis

OTHER: I fished solo. I attempted to replicate the previous evening with caddis, and began fishing down to "Cook's Island" in front of Cook’s Island when the water began rising. Consequently, there was very little fishing and no catching.

Thursday, August 31, 2006

DATE: Thursday, August 31, 2006

TIME: 3:30 PM to 6:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, Cook’s Island to top of 2^nd island above Ackerman/Handicap Access

HATCH: One caddis and one crane fly

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #20 furnace cockleburr, #18 gray elk hair caddis

OTHER: I fished solo. Fishing was challenging and it was intense trying to "outsmart" the little animals with pea-sized brains. It reminded me of the old days when I fished almost exclusively with dry flies. Regardless, it was fun to concentrate so much. I struggled for about 45 minutes before catching my first small fish in shallow, fast water on the cockleburr. Then I managed to take another, but that was it. After fishing my way upstream, I finally took a chance and switched to a #18 gray caddis and immediately was rewarded with a fish, then another and another. On one drift, a large cutthroat came out of nowhere and gently took the caddis. I braced for a fight with the 2-weight, and it lasted all of 2 seconds as the big fish broke me off. I guess the cutthroat to be over 18 inches. I managed to take a couple more fish on the caddis. It was another great day in paradise.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

DATE: Wednesday, August 30, 2006

TIME: 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM

WEATHER: High 60s rising to low 70s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s—downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: A few midges

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, Big Ugly

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Ron. This was a repeat of August 29—great fishing and catching—we all caught fish. Kay and Ron had particularly good days and both caught lots of fish. Ron's casting has improved and he fished well. There were several others fishing McClellan's, but we had the area we were fishing to ourselves except for a nice gentleman who was fishing downstream. I caught several on the scud, then switched to the Big Ugly, and missed several. It was a little too early in the day. We left the river at 11:00 AM so Ron could head back to Benton, AR. It was great fishing with him, and he did very well.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

DATE: Tuesday, August 29, 2006

TIME: 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 80s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s—downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: A few midges and caddis

ROD USED: Winston 7’ 9” 2-weight LT

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud, Big Ugly

OTHER: I fished with Kay and Ron. This was a great fishing and catching day in paradise—we all caught fish. Kay and Ron had particularly good days and both caught lots of fish. Ron had one fish that was close to 17 inches, and another that was at least 16 inches. I fished the scud for a couple of hours, then switched to the Big Ugly, and caught several dead drifting it as a dry fly. I then would slightly "pop" the fly, like a popping bug, and fish would explode on the fly. I caught at least a dozen and a half fishing this way. I then began fishing Ed's Hole and managed a 22-inch cutthroat on the 2-weight fishing the Big Ugly on top in fairly shallow water. Surprisingly, the fish did not fight much until it saw us, but oh my, was it pretty. Kay got a picture and we released it to be caught again. Despite the great, near fall like weather, we had McClellan's to ourselves!

Monday, August 28, 2006

DATE: Monday, August 28, 2006

TIME: 10:30 AM to 2:00 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 80s, overcast

WATER CONDITIONS: Low, somewhat turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Crooked Creek, Snow Access

HATCH: N/A

ROD USED: Unknown

FLIES USED: Crawfish, hopper

OTHER: I fished with Ron. Fishing for smallmouth bass was tough today. We walked and fished downstream to a relatively large pool, seeing lots of smallmouths, but they were not very aggressive. Several fish struck on top, but few hooked up. We did manage a few bluegills, some small rock bass, and a few smallmouth bass. Ron foul hooked a large (8-12 pounds) carp, but the carp took off, and broke the line.

Friday, August 25, 2006

DATE: Friday, August 25, 2006

TIME: 10:30 AM to 12:30 PM

WEATHER: Low 70s rising to low 90s

WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units, slightly turbid

LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, McClellan’s—downstream of Otter Creek

HATCH: A few midges and several crane flies

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

FLIES USED: #14 gray Norfork River scud

OTHER: I fished with my favorite fishing partner, Kay. This was another wonderful day in paradise—fishing and catching were both GREAT. We entered the river as it was still falling, and immediately began catching lots of fish near the "Catch and Release" sign and downstream. I moved downstream to Ed's Hole and it was almost a fish every cast. Kay was having some trouble hooking up, so I move upstream to help her. We had an AH move in on us from upstream, and he was casting within about 3 feet of my upper drift. In addition, he was wading in the lane where the fish were feeding. I didn't say anything, but then he attempted to move between Kay and me (we were only about 40 feet apart), and I asked him not to crowd her. He proceeded to move downstream of her, between her and another fisherman (about 100 feet between them), and began crowding Kay, casting near her lower drift. I politely asked him not to crowd her, and asked again, not so politely. He mumbled something, and I moved to get between Kay and him. Kay told him good etiquette dictated 100 feet distance between them, and he told us to mind our own business. Fortunately, I'm big enough that he saw we meant "business" and proceeded downstream. Poor fellow didn't catch but a couple of trout. He was from Missouri with a license plate "TROUT". He had all the fineries of a gentleman fisherman—the best of everything money could buy. I suppose I'm getting too old to put up with crap like that. Anyway, he ruined our fishing experience; fog settled in despite it being after lunch, and we fished our way upstream and left.