Bad Elf

[Woolly Bugger]

I was going to fish the lower part of the river, but when I checked the generation schedule I realized that I would have to fish up closer to the dam. The release stopped at 8:00 am and I thought that the water would be down when I arrived streamside at 9:30. The water was still up and flowing strong through the slicks and completely covering the riffles I usually fish. I stashed the Bad Elf in a deep pocket near the bank to chill and tied on a flymph to toss into the slowly receding waters.




Nothing grabbed the fly and then I spotted little midges and risers. The fish were mostly concentrated on the far bank where the current was slack and the water was also covered by overhanging branches. I tied on an emerger midge and began to work out the line to cast 40 feet across the river and under the brush. Mend and mend again waiting, watching, I knew the fly would start to drag any second... and then the perfect sip,... strip and set the hook. Fish on.




The little Smith River brown felt bigger than usual but that was just from the extra flow.




It was like that for the next several hours and then the fish stopped rising regularly and I moved on downstream and nymphed for a while. I caught a couple more and then the Bald Elf began to call to me. I retrieved the now chilled ale and sat down in a sunny spot and enjoyed this Winter brew.

[5xTippett]

Wooly, you are heading up to where I like to fish, now. :)  I like the upper stretch.  I went Wednesday and fished midges.  I caught fish wherever I saw them sipping on top.  I caught one a little over 12 inches and the rest were between somewhat small and downright little.  Man, you are lucky to live as close as you do.  You caught some pretty fish.  Good job.  Was anybody else fishing?

[Woolly Bugger]

saw a guy spinning downtown on the way up and then there were a few at the lower end when I left, but nobody where I was...

[Fire-Fly]

Nice report, and by the way gas this evening is now down to $1.99 here near the smith ;hb

[ColdOnTheShoulder]

That first brown is gorgeous! Nice report, we're at $1.89 now. Next week i think I'll do two days salt and a day out near WV.

[Fire-Fly]

That first brown is gorgeous! Nice report, we're at $1.89 now. Next week i think I'll do two days salt and a day out near WV.

Amen i love some WV fishin! ;hb

[Service Tech]

Looks like alot of fun Woolly. Could you post the pattern for that fly you posted?

[Woolly Bugger]

Looks like alot of fun Woolly. Could you post the pattern for that fly you posted?

that's a flymph tied by Trout Maharishi

[Service Tech]

Well duh, I have one of those from the swap. But still, T.M., can you post the pattern please?