TIME: 2:00 PM TO 4:00 PM
WEATHER: PC, Low-50s, Very Windy
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #14 Tan Norfork Scud, #14 Ice-T Mini, #14 T-Worm, #20 Dunn’s Dun, #20 Kay’s Grey
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Kay. It was windy, dark, and cold; and I couldn’t see the emerger flies on the water. Kay and I did manage to take 4 fish each. I caught mine (3 rainbows, 1 brown) on the gray scud, T-worm, and tan scud, but fished the other flies hard. It was the coldest 53 degrees I’ve been in.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Norfork River
TIME: 9:00 AM TO 12:30 PM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access; bottom of island below McClellan’s
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges, at least 3 different species
OTHER: Fished with Rod. Rod and I began fishing the gray scud, but it was really slow, without a single bite. I immediately switched to a Dunn’s Dun and caught only a couple of fish. We decided to wade upstream to the bottom of the island below McClellan’s and several guys had it surrounded. We fish a riffle immediately below the tip of the island, and caught a number of fish dead-drifting a Dunn’s Dun, and also dead-drifting the Dunn’s Dunn and stripping it back. Our success was due in large part to casting upstream of the riffle and drifting the fly through the riffle, disguising it from the fish. I ended up catching 11 fish this way, and all were good fighters. Rod missed a grand slam by not catching a cutthroat. The Dunn’s Dun is back!
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access; bottom of island below McClellan’s
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges, at least 3 different species
OTHER: Fished with Rod. Rod and I began fishing the gray scud, but it was really slow, without a single bite. I immediately switched to a Dunn’s Dun and caught only a couple of fish. We decided to wade upstream to the bottom of the island below McClellan’s and several guys had it surrounded. We fish a riffle immediately below the tip of the island, and caught a number of fish dead-drifting a Dunn’s Dun, and also dead-drifting the Dunn’s Dunn and stripping it back. Our success was due in large part to casting upstream of the riffle and drifting the fly through the riffle, disguising it from the fish. I ended up catching 11 fish this way, and all were good fighters. Rod missed a grand slam by not catching a cutthroat. The Dunn’s Dun is back!
Monday, October 8, 2007
Norfork River
TIME: 8:00 PM TO 12:00 PM
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #14 T-Worm; #14 Olive Norfork Bead-head Mini-Sculpin, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges, at least 3 different species
OTHER: Fished with Rod. Rod and I began fishing the gray scud, but it was a bit slow, catching only a couple. I switched to a San Juan worm and caught another couple, then switched to a Norfork mini-sculpin—casting quartering downstream, then stripping back. This technique proved excellent for both Rod and me. The Dunn’s Dun then got a try and proved very good, both dead-drifted and cast quartering downstream and stripping back. Anyway, I ended up with a dozen fish for the morning, though nothing over about 14 inches. I did catch a grand slam, with a rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and a brookie.
WEATHER: PC, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #14 T-Worm; #14 Olive Norfork Bead-head Mini-Sculpin, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges, at least 3 different species
OTHER: Fished with Rod. Rod and I began fishing the gray scud, but it was a bit slow, catching only a couple. I switched to a San Juan worm and caught another couple, then switched to a Norfork mini-sculpin—casting quartering downstream, then stripping back. This technique proved excellent for both Rod and me. The Dunn’s Dun then got a try and proved very good, both dead-drifted and cast quartering downstream and stripping back. Anyway, I ended up with a dozen fish for the morning, though nothing over about 14 inches. I did catch a grand slam, with a rainbow, cutthroat, brown, and a brookie.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Norfork River,
TIME: 8:30 AM TO 12:00 PM
WEATHER: PC, Low 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. Initially, we replicated our techniques from the afternoon before. Ron did real well, again, high-sticking the gray scud, catching several fish in just a couple of hours. I also managed to fool a few dumb ones on the scud, but switched to a Dunn’s Dunn below the riffle and caught a few fish. As with the previous afternoon, neither of us caught any real big fish; most were in the 12-14 inch range.
WEATHER: PC, Low 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: Norfork River, 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. Initially, we replicated our techniques from the afternoon before. Ron did real well, again, high-sticking the gray scud, catching several fish in just a couple of hours. I also managed to fool a few dumb ones on the scud, but switched to a Dunn’s Dunn below the riffle and caught a few fish. As with the previous afternoon, neither of us caught any real big fish; most were in the 12-14 inch range.
Norfork River
TIME: 3:00 PM TO 5:30 PM
WEATHER: PC, High 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. Today was a two-for, fishing twice in the same day. We again fished the gray scud, and Ron did real well, high-sticking. He’s becoming a proficient fly fisher. I did not fare so well on the scud, but did above average fishing the Dunn’s Dunn in the slow water below the riffle. It’s good that the Dunn’s Dun is working again, and we saw more fish at this set of riffles than I have seen in several years. It is highly probable that Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has begun stocking at Charlie Cook’s place again, and it is sure paying dividends.
WEATHER: PC, High 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud, #20 Dunn’s Dun
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. Today was a two-for, fishing twice in the same day. We again fished the gray scud, and Ron did real well, high-sticking. He’s becoming a proficient fly fisher. I did not fare so well on the scud, but did above average fishing the Dunn’s Dunn in the slow water below the riffle. It’s good that the Dunn’s Dun is working again, and we saw more fish at this set of riffles than I have seen in several years. It is highly probable that Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has begun stocking at Charlie Cook’s place again, and it is sure paying dividends.
Friday, September 21, 2007
Norfork River
TIME: 3:00 PM TO 5:00 PM
WEATHER: PC, High 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. It was my first time on the river since June 25. Ron did real well high-sticking the gray scud, catching several fish in just a couple of hours. I also managed to fool a few dumb ones on the scud at the head of the pool. Neither of us caught any real big fish; most were in the 12-14 inch range.
WEATHER: PC, High 80s
WATER CONDITIONS: 0 units
LOCATIONS FISHED: 2nd Island above Ackerman/Handicap Access
FLIES USED: #14 Gray Norfork Scud
ROD USED: 10 ft 4 wt Winston
HATCHES: Midges
OTHER: Fished with Ron. It was my first time on the river since June 25. Ron did real well high-sticking the gray scud, catching several fish in just a couple of hours. I also managed to fool a few dumb ones on the scud at the head of the pool. Neither of us caught any real big fish; most were in the 12-14 inch range.
Thursday, August 16, 2007
North Fork of the Tongue River, WY
WEATHER: Clear, Low 70s
WATER CONDITIONS: Normal
LOCATIONS FISHED: North Fork of the Tongue River, BIG HORN MOUNTAINS
FLIES USED: #12 Hopper, Chernobyl Ant
ROD USED: 7’9” 2 wt Winston
HATCHES: None
OTHER: Fished with Kay and Dick. My, oh my, what a wonderful place to fish. While there were wildfires all around us, we managed to get out of the smoke. There are several pull-offs and parking along the North Fork of the Tongue river which flows adjacent to US Hwy 14 through the northern portion of the Big Horn Mountains. This river reminded Kay and me of the South Fork of the Platte River near Decker, CO, but with lower banks and much easier casting. The river holds all four species of fish, and I was blessed to catch all four today. While the stream might give the appearance of holding only small fish, we were surprised to see long, heavy shadows under the cut banks. With hoppers everywhere, I tried one for 30 minutes without even a look. I finally resorted to the Chernobyl Ant and they couldn’t refuse it. I caught a couple of 18-inch fish, a couple of 16 inchers and one slightly smaller, as well as a few fish under 12 inches, all but one on the Chernobyl Ant. Dick caught several large fish as well on a girdle bug, and Kay caught fish, too. A drag-free drift was absolutely essential. We all had an incredible day.
As a note, this is an incredible catch-and-release fishery, with easy access and wonderful scenery. It’s definitely on the list for a return trip.
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