How
many days would I like to fish?
2008 | | | 2007 | | | 2006 | | | 2005 | | | 2004 | | | 2003 | | | 2002 | | | 2001 | | | 2000 | | | 1999 | | | 1998 | | | 1997 | | | Home |
38- |
November 20. |
37- |
November 18 . |
36- |
November 17 . |
35- |
November 12 . |
34- |
November 11 . |
32- | October
16 .
|
31- | October
15 .
|
30- | October
4 . Delayed harvest fishing has started and I went up to Stone Mountain to see where my trout fees are going. The Roaring River was just too crowded for me so I headed up Stone Mountain Creek and was amazed to see dozens of trout in virtually all of the pools. Those boys at the hatchery did a real good job, these rainbows and browns were healthy full-bodied fish with a lot of fight in them. One 14 inch rainbow jumped three times clearing the water by several feet in his finally successful attempts at throwing the hook. They were just too many and too easy to catch, it sort of takes the sport out of it. I was able to pull several fish out of each pool. As I was going after the big 'uns I was chucking weighted woolly buggers and a big green Mr. Ugly. I really prefer the solitude and challenge that accompany wild trout. These easy to catch fish will be caught over and over during the fall and winter, those who survive the handling will be caught again in the spring before finally becoming someone's meal in June at the end of the delayed harvest. If PETA has a case against fishing this would be a good place for them to start. So, I'm only going to fish delayed harvest with the kids! The best part of the trip was hiking up past two guys who were working a large pool without much success and catching two fish out of the pool above them. If you going to have an audience its nice to catch something. |
29- | September
23. Let me tell you about the last fish I caught, I was going up a steep cascade, hitting all of the tiny pools, and then saw a run maybe 10 inches wide and three feet long, I cast a CDC mayfly and as soon as the fly lighted on the water I saw the rainbow move off the bottom and take the fly! It was at least nine inches long and the largest fish I caught all day. I was fishing a tiny headwater creek and was almost up to the Blue Ridge Parkway when I reached my time limit and started my hour and a half hike back out. Even though the creek was so narrow that it could be easily stepped across in many places as it tumbled down the escarpment it created plunge pools ten feet wide and three to five feet deep. They contained trout in the six to ten inch range. I saw far more than I caught as they often ran for cover at my approach. The slightest movement spooked them. However when I caught a six incher who tailwalked on a pool about a dozen trout five to eight inches long came over to see what wash causing all this splashing about. I almost looked like a feeding frenzy! Len and I caught about a dozen trout apiece during a delightful morning on the first day of Autumn! |
28- |
September 15. |
|||
|
27- | September 2. I headed up to a catch and release stream for some home stream fishing. I like going back to familiar streams, where you know every pool, run and bend of the water. A river that you can fish anytime in your mind. Sometimes when I'm walking down the street I'll catch myself casting to rising trout on the stream in my mind. Recent heavy rains had flooded my stream and everything looked different, rocks had been swept downstream, new sandbars created and the river flowed through new channels. The once familiar stream had been transformed into a new stretch of water. The trout had found new holding spots and my casting, often a tad short, spooked fish after fish. I managed to catch a few small brown trout and was about to give up when all of a sudden a large fish smashed my Mr. Ugly (my version of a Woolly Bugger) and cleared the water with the fly in his jaw. He headed back under his rock and I had to cross the stream to apply pressure to move him into open water, he ran upstream trying to flee his home pool. I turned him back and reeled madly as he ran to the other end of the pool and hid under another rock. After a few more runs I brought this 20+ inch brown to net. After carefully reviving him he swam away and hid in his den under a rock. |
26- | August
25.
|
25- | August
21.
|
24- | July
26. My wife was planning to take the kids to church, my church is on the stream, so I headed out early with plans to be home after lunch. The day was breaking as I drove out of town and I reached the water by 7:30. In the deep shadows of the gorge I hoped to catch a large brown. It dismays me that one cast of a 3 weight line can send trout scurrying for cover. I never thought that this stream held a lot of trout, somedays I catch more than others. This was a day of few trout. Stonefly husk littered the rocks along the banks, but I didn't see any flies in the air, I hoped that as the day wore on something large enough to see would start hatching. I didn't see any fish rise or insect life, so I started fishing with my old standby an elk hair caddis. A trout rose to it in a deep fast run, I tagged him and sent him down for cover. Later, much later, I caught a couple of eight inch brown trout and one which was twelve. The sun was now overhead and I headed back downstream, no paths here, and ran into a couple of college age fly fishermen whose first time luck was as bleak as mine. I gave them words of encouragement and pointed out that at least we were fishing very beautiful water. I headed home to trouble as I noticed Zoe's car seat still in the back of the van from yesterday's hike in Hanging Rock. |
23- | July
18. The last cast drifted through the dark pool, the elk hair caddis barely visible in the fading light. I didn't see the fly disappear, I felt it as the rod bent and the CFO screamed. The fish made several strong runs as I jumped boulders to fight and land what would surly be the biggest trout of the day. My vision could not penetrate the dark waters and the fish did not show itself, I had no idea how big this trout was or how long into the night the battle would rage. I finally netted this beautiful 16 inch full bodied brown, the largest I have ever taken from this pool. My heart was still pounding as I walked back to my car wearing a satisfied smile. It always amazes me that it takes just one cast to catch a fish. Most of the time its that first cast into a run, pool or riffle that entices the trout to strike. I went up the stream in the early evening hoping to catch a few large brown trout. The stream and woods were tranquil in the early shadows of night. First I caught a nine incher in a shallow run. Then I approached an undercut bank with tangled roots reaching into the water. I small eddy promised a large trout, if only I could cast six inches farther. Yes, the fly landed in the tea cup of still water and the trout jumped into the air, the fly pulled tight into the corner of his jaw, a beautiful 14 inch brown! Later, I cast into the head of a run and a large brown ran down stream, screaming the reel, bending the rod, taking the line under and around a down tree and tangle of branches. I just knew I was going to loose this fish. I worked my way over to the tree and tried to free my line, as the trout continued to run, then the line went slack and I reeled madly as the fish ran back up the stream. He made several shorter runs as I freed the line and finally brought the 15 inch brown to net. As the sun set the woods became alive with the song of the birds ending their day. The running water grew louder in the approaching darkness. It was time to return home. |
22- | July
8. Jim and I headed north for a little wild trout fishing on a catch and release stream in Virginia. As we set up to fish the first pool we noticed a stringer leaving no doubt that poachers had raided the stream. I guess they'll never learn, once something is gone its gone forever. I moved on upstream, nothing was coming off the water so I started fishing with an Adams. The sky was overcast and the light made it difficult to spot the Adams so I switched to and Elk Hair Caddis and soon caught my first brown trout. It was about nine inches and richly colored. I didn't catch anything for over an hour, the Elk Hair wasn't doing the trick so I switched to a Stimulator with a prince nymph dropper, then all of a sudden WHAM, the stimulator was pulled under and as I raised the rod a 12 inch brown began to jump and run downstream over rapids, I chased him as he continued to pull line off the reel, finally I brought him to net in a quiet pool. I released this fighter and went up to the next run where an even larger brown took the Stimulator, he came quickly to net after a brief struggle. On the next cast after releasing the 13 inch full bodied brown I tagged another good sized trout, then moved up to a deep run which ran under a downed tree. There was a large limb under water and when the Stimulator stopped I first thought that I had snagged the branch but as I raised the rod I felt the tension of yet another large brown trout on the prince. I struggled to keep him out of the branches, finally he tired and I netted then released him. Three nice fish in less than twenty minutes! Rain began to fall as I hiked out to meet Jim for our ride back. |
21- | July
2. A couple of my favorite fishing spots are the Orvis Catalog Outlet stores in Roanoke and Salem, Virginia. I needed some new leaders and a few other items so I took the 2 hr drive up Highway 220. With free parking on the street till 4, I carefully approached the downtown store and searched the bins for specials, I picked out a few dozen flies, but didn't find any 6x 7.5 foot leaders so I took a walk down the block to the real Orvis store and picked up the what I couldn't find in the discount location. As the hour was approaching ticket time I headed out to the Salem location (about 20 minutes), this is a much larger store and carries a lot of fly fishing equipment from rods and reels, hackle and flies, to waders and boots. Its inventory also includes men and women's clothing. Everything in the store is marked down at least 50% with some items like men's pants at 70%. I picked out a few dozen more flies (from Adams to Zonkers), some accessories and fly tying materials. A fourth of July special increased my discount an additional 15%. I had inquired about the Roanoke River and was happy to hear that it was stocked with trout. I decided to wet a line on a stretch just outside of Salem. The shaded and undercut far bank looked like prime holding water for large browns. No insects were coming off the water so I worked my way across the stream casting a Royal Wulff into likely pockets. It wasn't long before I got a strike, it was a small red eye perch, and this was soon followed by an even more discouraging sucker. I worked the shaded bank, the slow eddies, the undercuts, the root wads, and the only thing I caught besides discouragement was suckers and red eyes. Finally a hatch of large Hendricksons came off the water and I studied the water for signs of rising trout to no avail. I gave up fishing and just watched the birds swooping down off their perches chasing the mayflies, stalling in flight to grab a fly, then swooping down to regain control. The sun was setting behind the Blue Ridge as I stepped from the stream and headed home. |
20- | June
22. I spent the morning trying to catch a few trout on a mountain stream. A small hatch of Red Quills were coming off the water, but the fish would have nothing to do with my imitation. A closer look revealed that they were taking a #22 midge. Matching the hatch soon proved successful. I caught eight brown and rainbow trout. While fishing a pool I tagged an overhanging branch, while retrieving my fly I checked the branch and found a sulfur, a stimulator, an ant, and an adams. Not bad for a morning fishing. When I first started fly fishing I use to count the number of flies lost per fish caught. It was 10:1. Things slowly improved and after the first year the ratio was better than 1:1. Now its not uncommon to catch fish after fish with the came fly, maybe a dozen, till it is chewed up and begins to unravel. I then retire the fly on my hat. Careful inspection of streamside bushes has filled my fly box with freebies. I now almost always leave the water with more than I started out with. Also found a nice pair of designer sunglasses. |
19- | June
19. I took Christopers up to the mountains to to a little fishing. As soon as we got on the water a drizzle began to fall. We caught a brown and and a rainbow before the thunder started echoing through the mountains. It might have been sunny in Winston-Salem, but it was raining on our stream. We went back to the car for lunch and a break from the weather. The rain slacked off a bit and we managed to catch a few more before Christopher complained about getting soaked. |
18- | June
6.
|
17- | June
5. I decided to take a hike up ----- Creek to fish for the speckled jewels that live in the headwaters where life on the stream begins. I was hoping that the level would be up and the water stained with all of the recent rain, but it was clear as glass and down low. With weather threatening I didn't want to get caught in the gorge above the falls in a downpour. Water levels in this narrow streambed can rise in an instant. I hiked up three or so miles and started fishing just below the falls. This water is mixed with brows and rainbows, above the falls it's exclusively specks. Along the way I pass many good looking pools and watch for "black lightning" darting for cover as I move along the trail. Even though the path is 60 or more feet above and to the side of the stream these wary trout catch my movement and streak ahead to the deeper pools that offer shelter. Mountain Laurel blooms litter the forest floor like a blanket of snow. I must have left my cloaking device at home, for as I cast my four weight with 9ft 6x leader the trout scramble out the way as the fly lights on the water. A mix of mayflies are hatching and I change flies to "match" them. As I sneak along the creek I catch and release a couple of dozen of the beautiful brook trout with iridescent markings and gaudy fins, an unexpected splash of color from a fish that is almost "invisible" from above. This is thin water up here, the trout live in the margins of life. Dusk comes early in the mountains, and I turn around to hike out reaching the car just before the park closes. The stocked trout in the "Church Pool" are rising to a prolific mayfly hatch. I'm tempted, but do not spoil my wild trout day by taking these inferior fish.
|
16- | May
26. . There was a light hatch of sulfurs coming off the water as I climbed down the bank to the ----- River. A few fish were rising in a slashing manner trying to grab the emergers before they took flight. The hatch was so slow that I thought that the deep pools of the ----- might be a good opportunity to try some streamers. Nothing was happening down under, so after seeing a few more rises I switched to a #18 Sulfur and wham a nice sized trout slashed at it just as it lighted on the water, but I missed it. The wind was picking up, blowing straight down the river, collapsing my leader and putting down the fish. I missed another strike before the hatch slacked off. I tried some emergers and beadhead with no takers, then switched again to streamers along the shaded bank where I had a strike from a small trout. I finally reeled in and headed back to work. Skunked for the first time in a long long time! Was the bright sky and clear water to blame?
|
15- | May
22.
|
14- | May
13. I pulled an "Early Morning Sneak" and headed back to ------ ---- in ----- ----------- State Park for some more of that delayed harvest fishing. Yeah, I know stocked fish just aren't the same but the fish were calling me. I had spotted some big fish and wanted another try at them. The day started cool and overcast, I put in just below the hole where I spotted a 24+ inch brown trout. Working my way upstream I caught six or seven 10 - 12 inch brook, rainbow and brown trout. I carefully approached "the pool" tied on my best woolly bugger and cast. Plunk, strip, strip, strip, Oh, my God! She came out from behind a rock and chased my fly. Come on...come on....she turned back to her lair. I tried again and again she chased it a couple of more times then grew tired of the game. I tried another fly, I tried a streamer, a stonefly, a hopper, a beetle, another woolly bugger, a flash-a-bugger. I got the fish to show itself a couple more times. Anybody out there think they can catch this one? Send me a message, I'll show you where she is. Finally I gave up and moved on upstream, catching dozens of brook, rainbows and a few browns. Around 11 o'clock the sun came out and the fishing slacked off. I brought a few more brook trout to net before leaving around 1.
|
13- | May
9.
|
12- | May
7.
|
11- | April
24 . Christopher (4.5 year old son) and I headed up to ---------- Creek for an afternoon of fishing. After stopping at the - for lunch we headed up to the park. There was only one car parked in the "Fish for Fun" lot and I thought that we would get a good stream section. However a quick glance showed that all eight sections had been signed out. Just then a park ranger pulled up and asked if I had any questions. Christopher selected a beadhead tellico that we had tied the night before. I managed to hook two of the smaller trout that hang out in the pool. After hooking each fish I handed the rod to my son and let him reel them in. We moved on up the stream to our section where I carried Christopher across the stream and deposited him on a sandy "beach" on the stream. While he played in the sand I fished and each time I hooked a fish I brought the rod back to him to reel them in. We spent about four hours "working" the stream and managed to catch a good number of fish. "A pretty good day fishing", Christopher reported. |
10- | April
20 .
|
9- | April
13. Easter Monday, a high holy day and a great day to do a little fly fishing. Len and I headed out around 11 o'clock for some afternoon fishing on ------- Creek, I wanted to fish some more of this exciting stream. I walked to the point where I had stopped the other day and then jumped into the stream. Wild Iris were in bloom. There was a little hatch of mayflies going on but I didn't detect any risers, so I started with a beadhead caddis pattern and was soon into a feisty eight inch rainbow. Many more came to net as the afternoon wore on I switched to a stimulator and took ten more six to ten inch rainbow. Most of the fish were just at or under the seven inch minimum. I also caught one brown trout, what was he doing here with all the rainbow? We fished till dusk and hit the road for the two hour drive to Winston. Clear fast water on a steep gradient make this pocket water, plunge pool laden stream a blast to fish, not to mention a work out as one has to scramble over boulders to get to the next pool. I will return to this stream again and again as I have many more miles to explore. |
8- | April
8. With the threat of foul weather later in the week, I headed up to the State Park for a morning of fishing on -------- Creek. --------, a small tributary of the ----- which is designated Wild Trout Water, and requires accurate and delicate casting to catch the wild browns. The fish are small, like the creek, but put up a good fight. Lightweight rods make this enjoyable water. The day started out cloudy but soon the clouds moved on and bright sun bathed the stream, making my quarry even more nervous. Stealth is key to success on this pretty little creek. |
7- | April
3. That little bit of fishing on hatchery water wetted my appetite for some wild trout. Even with rain and thunder showers in the forecast I headed into the Pisgah Forest. ------ Creek is a wild steep gradient freestone stream. It was bigger than expected and Buck's words came to mind as I scrambled around drops and falls, "Be careful", he warned and with good reason as this stream is in rugged terrain. I started fishing with a dry fly and after hooking several small rainbows I switched to a beadhead nymph and pulled larger fish from the deep runs and pools. For the dry fly fisherman good line control is a must as braided currents make getting a long drift difficult. I nine foot rod for short line nymphing would be a good choice in this stream. I was flinging a lot of lead (actually I use a non toxic sink putty from Orvis) to get to the bottom of swift runs and was usually rewarded with a strong tug from a beautifully marked rainbow. Hard rain around noon shortened by day of fishing this fantastic Wild Trout Stream. Oh, as I turned to walk out I was greeted by two Wildlife Officers, not only did they check my license (fishing and drivers, you are now required to carry both while fishing) but searched my vest to see if I had kept any undersize fish. When asked about the nature of the search he explained, "I have to give the same treatment to everybody, there have been a lot of people keeping undersized fish up here". After this trip I thought that I needed a wading staff. While fishing the Pit River last year we used old ski poles and they were great. So after visiting Blue Ridge Ice Creams I went to the Ski and Tennis Station and asked if they know anyone who had an old, don't want anymore ski pole and to my delight they said yes and headed to the back room and returned with my new free of charge wading staff. Thanks. |
6- | April
2. After spending two hours in the dentist chair (a new crown) I decided that since I couldn't open my mouth to talk my afternoon would be best spent catching fish. I headed up to Stone Mountain State Park for some delayed harvest fishing. Thinking that the Roaring River would be too crowded I decided to fish Stone Mountain Creek just up from Bull Head. Right off the bat I was catching hatchery brook trout on a Secret Weapon. The fourth fish on the same fly broke off, shame on me for not checking my knots! Anyway, I tied on an Adams and proceeded to hook the same fish and managed to recover my Secret Weapon which was still hooked in this feisty 10 inch brook trout. As I passed under the bridge things started to slow down as this is small water. I managed to spook a few good sized fish before catching a few rainbows. After climbing up the falls bad casting spooked a couple of nice sized browns. |
5- | March
26.
|
4- | March
15.
|
3- | February
20. I downloaded Trophy Rivers Demo (Sierra On-Line, Inc.) the other night, fished a little, then went out and bought the real thing. I played, er.. fished for a while caught many trout, steelhead and salmon. I was itching to go out and catch a real one. So, I headed back up to the ---. Once again I was greeted by a cold breeze and cold water. It was almost four when I wet my line. I quickly caught an 11 inch rainbow on a bead head. I worked the pools and runs with the bead head, but didn't get another bite for quite a while. Then I hooked a beautifully marked brook trout, almost eight inches long. As evening approached a small caddis hatch appeared, I switched to a dark elk hair and enjoyed casting a dry fly in the twilight. When I could no longer see the caddis imitation I switched to an Adams Parachute with a florescent green stem. I fished till it was dark. As I walked out the white foam captured the remaining light and phosphoresced brightly, guiding me along the path. A great day fishing, the only thing missing was the fish. Tonight I might try to catch that 41 pound steelhead that broke off on the Sol Duc river. |
2- |
February 19 . |
1- | February
12.
|
Keith's Fly Fishing Pages
Blue Ridge Trout
Update November 23, 1998