I Touched It...

[Onslow]

Two years ago, a fishing compadre and myself explored some water rarely fished.  As a result of the trip, both of us are better oriented.  Honestly I didn't think I'd ever go back, but a niggling voice kept telling me to go back.  Creeks change periodically.  At times, they improve, at times some creeks go to complete crap. Perhaps I should change my mind about going back, and just do it.

Fishing hear is quite an undertaking.  Access is challenging, and the duration of the point to point wade is rather lengthy.  Two years ago, a mile was wacked off the trip by busting out a ridge due to concerns about time.  This year, I found a lower access higher up, and I wanted to explore that aforementioned mile.

This particular area is not inhabited by genteel folk.  This is a place where dogs just hang out in the middle of the road, and when you walk by, the barking starts.  Dogs are everywhere.

After bushwacking a bit, I picked up some paths that took me near where I wanted to go.  Saved a ton of time which was great being I started later than planned. Full contact dirty longrodding is for me, and not for thee. I have no class, and I'm good with it.





Fish were active when I arrived.  I was however bedeviled by the seeming inability to get a damn fished landed.  I missed a ton of strikes, and once the fish were on, they seems to get unglued about 2 feet from hand.  Yes, I could have benefited from a net, but I'm sick of nets.

Better results probably could've been had if I would've changed over to a hopper w/soft hackle dropper.  The fish of all sizes seem to be looping/arching and inhaling/sucking, and not munching. This was the crux of the hookup issue.









Not far upstream from where I started, I caught this pale fish.  Where did this come from?  A bit further up, I hooked, and played another brookie.  This one had a bright pink belly.  Lost it a few feet from hand.



Action was brisk for the first hour, and it slowed as the morning wore on. Around 10:30ish the fishing stopped.  After a bit, I noticed a tale in the water whipping in front of me.  It was a beast of an otter pressing its head under a rock.  I was reaching for my camera when the damn thing noticed my presence.  I was only four feet away.  This guy was about 35-40 pounds, and about 32 inches long excluding the tale.

By this time, I was well into the new stretch.  Came across a few glory holes but the weather was changing.  The heavy air was giving way to a dry breeze, and the clouds were breaking.  The bite was gone, at least until noon.















Ok, plant geeks, I don't believe I've ever seen this particular flower/plant/vine before.  Does anyone want to take a stab at the flower below?  This was growing on a vine type plant with notched three pronged leaves.















No big brown porn today.  I did loose one about 15", and many others around 12-13 inches.  After about 3 miles of crunching on periwinkles (3 PM), my day was largely finished, and I bugged out.

The stream looked better than on the last trip.  Don't think there are many fish above 16 in here, but then again, the glory holes did not put out today.

Lots of turkey scratchin here in the woods.  Saw a hummingbird working all the fall flowers.  Don't normally see this on the river.

[greg]

Hell yes

[driver]

I'd fish that. Soild work.

[Dougfish]

Steady work, if you can find it! 

Climbing Monkshood. Aconitum uncinatum.
There is another species that is white.
I have encountered both. Bucket plants.

[itieuglyflies]

Ken gets it done....and always away from the crowds.

[Stone-Man]

Damn good photos. and scenery. Wish you had gotten a shot of the otter.  Thanks for sharing


  Stone - Man

[Onslow]

Damn good photos. and scenery. Wish you had gotten a shot of the otter.  Thanks for sharing


  Stone - Man

This stream is doing remarkably well considering the what is being consumed.

Laurel Creek @ Blue Ridge Mountain Club has had an otter problem. What few trout were there are now gone.  Guess the otters can starve, or eat stockers in Elk Creek downstream. Stockers tend to unnaturally sustain them, but many don't get this.

I don't carry guns because of where I fish.

[Woolly Bugger]

nice outing ken! 

[Big J]

  Compadre