Recent posts

#21

Warm Water Species / Re: Another Annual Trip to Sha...

Last post by driver - April 14, 2024, 11:20:31 AM

I should also mention the fish of the day. I had quite the battle with a one fish that was difficult to bring in. Could it have been a large striper? Time revealed that it was a Quillback (Carpiodes cyprinus), also known as the quillback carpsucker that was foul hooked in the motor, right behind the dorsal fin!

I also caught and released one blueback herring.

I foul hooked a Quillback fishing for stripers once. I thought I had a 20lb striper on. I was very disappointed.

#22

Local Trip Reports / Re: Smith-Continued

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 14, 2024, 08:50:48 AM

#24 --38 Upper 60s to low 70s but very windy, not a cloud in the sky

I should mention that I forgot to mention that the other day when I got out of the car, I heard a bald eagle's cry and when I got down to the water one flew overhead, pretty cool. Also there were several of them up on the James.


I know, it's the weekend, and I try not to fish on Saturday or Sunday, but I had to get out. I drove by the Great Road ramp to check the water clarity, it was looking ok, but there was a gaggle of fisherpersons gathered around a truck with a smithfly in the bed and two more wading upstream. I drove on and stopped at the Devil Bridge Ramp to check the phone as I lose signal once I go over the hill. Only one trailer today, haven't seen this one before.





Once I arrived at the parking lot, I was kind of surprised that it was vacant, but when I opened the door and heard the halyard slapping against the flag pole, I realized that the wind was a good reason not to be fishing today.

I went directly down to the left-hand pool, using the path that Doug cut to avoid the graveolent mud of turtle creek, and saw a kaleidoscope of swallowtail butterflies at the confluence.



More work to be done, I should just take the saw in on every trip!



I threw a small peanut envy on a sink tip for an hour or so without any results. Maybe he fly was too big?


I was fishing the SP 5wt. and switched to soft hackles which the small trout were interested in. They were all in the 7-9 inch range with the exception of one that came in at 3 inches. I didn't cull any as the recent shad delivery should keep the raptors happy for a while.



The wind was a bitch and I took a break.



On the way out I stopped to take some flower photos.

The mayapples are blooming.



And a Showy Orchis popped up trailside.



Sunday is another high wind day with predicted gust of 25, I may or may not go today?

 

#23

Warm Water Species / Re: Another Annual Trip to Sha...

Last post by itieuglyflies - April 13, 2024, 08:51:03 AM

Good fun with the Bugger and Driver. Weird year with hot weather,cold weather and river levels up and down.

#24

The Gravel Bar / Re: Beetle's Book and Word Thr...

Last post by Dee-Vo - April 12, 2024, 22:16:54 PM

A couple that I've finished recently.

Both were good. The Forstchen novel is the fourth in the series and was as good as the rest.

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#25

Pyscho Fly Fishers / Re: PFF V47 Shady Vally TN

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 12, 2024, 21:50:29 PM

In 

#26

The Gravel Bar / Re: unlimited it's the water, ...

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 12, 2024, 20:56:17 PM

[Salmon fishing to be banned off California coast for 2nd year in a row]

#27

The Gravel Bar / Re: Unlimited Salmon / Steelhe...

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 12, 2024, 20:51:57 PM

Salmon fishing to be banned off California coast for 2nd year in a row

The federal council that regulates fishing along the West Coast recommended Wednesday that the California ocean salmon season be canceled for the second year in a row. The renewed ban is a devastating blow to the state's commercial and recreational fishing industry, still reeling from a similar decision last year. 

The Pacific Fishery Management Council based its decision on continued low water levels and high temperatures in rivers where salmon spawn. Scientists say these poor river and ocean conditions have resulted in historically low population numbers for the iconic species. 

The Sacramento River watershed provides the greatest proportion of salmon on the West Coast. It used to support between 1 and 2 million fish every year, but in 2023, only about 134,000 adult fall-run Chinook, also known as king salmon, returned to that river to spawn.

The economics of the decision are crippling for communities that rely on revenue from commercial or recreational fishing activities. Estimates of financial losses stemming from last year's cancellation in California run from $45 million to $65 million.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/salmon-fishing-ban-california-coast-2024/

#28

Local Trip Reports / Re: Smith-Continued

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 12, 2024, 18:33:29 PM

#24 -- 37 Gas $3.56  , mid 60s and strong gusty wind.

Since the river below the creek is up and muddy I drove on up to the Damn Dam to harvest some stockerbows for the birds. I stopped at the boat ramp for a look see and there were seven vechicles in the lot. Holy crap, what's going on? As I drove up river road, I saw not one, not two, but three rafts on the water, a smith fly, a blue raft and Alex's hooligan bringing up the rear. I honked at Alex and he waved back. On up to an empty spot on the river I battled the wind for the next several hours and hooked and landed an handful of browns and rainbows. I culled the bows. The euro rod probably wasn't the best choice for the weather conditions and I'm sure i missed may strikes as the wind was blowing the line. But it was a spectacular day despite the wind.



It didn't appear that any work was being done on the hillside today, but there is some progress from the last time I took a look.

#29

Pyscho Fly Fishers / PFF V47 Shady Vally TN

Last post by Devinsdad - April 12, 2024, 07:40:36 AM

JT went to great pains to try and insure the sustainability of PFF.

The torch was passed this year to MSTASH / Rick Pons.  Hoping this PFF will be the best one ever.  Saint Carol, John's wife will be joining us Friday evening for dinner and to pour a sip in Stoneman's honor.

May 16,17,18,19

$70 for Thursday thru Sunday
$60 for Friday thru Sunday
Breakfast and dinner provided Friday and Saturday.  The Raceway Cafe will close by the end of April but the gas station has some limited sandwich options for lunch.

Rick has asked to mail checks to him, he does not want to deal with cash at camp.

Send cash or check to

Rick Pons
305 Rodoret Street N
Valdese NC 28690

As always we will need help in the kitchen with cooks and clean up.

Chime in here if you plan to attend.

Looking forward to it.

#30

The Gravel Bar / Re: Climate change?

Last post by Onslow - April 11, 2024, 19:56:11 PM

It feels like August.  Two morning lows of 68 thus far in 2024.

Heck, the sky looked like a pre hurricane situation today.

What does this all portend for 2024?  We may not like it.