Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: dossphoto on February 17, 2012, 18:09:40 PM

Title: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: dossphoto on February 17, 2012, 18:09:40 PM
As you may already know, there will be no generation at Philpott for about 70 days starting on February 21st, 2012. They have agreed help keep the river watered up with above average flow-bys between 65-80 cfs. The normal average low flows are 35-40 cfs. So hopefully we will have normal rainfall, and keep the lake levels up so the Corps will maintain the 65-80 flow rate. They are scheduled to resume regular generation schedules on April 28th, 2012.

**THESE DATES AND FLOW RATES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE. CONTINUE TO CALL AND VERFY THE GENERATION SCHEDULE BEFORE YOU GO!!***
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Al on February 17, 2012, 20:17:24 PM
Good post Darrin -  For those not in the loop, they are changing out a generator, not a turbine or the intake valve, both of which are what is really needed to help the fishery.

You should continue to call to check the schedule because I have been caught before during periods of "maintenance" when they decided to run a short "burp" to test whatever they were working on. They always announce it just before hand to CYA but if you don't check just before you pull on your waders you could end up on a rock in the middle of the river and gain fame with your photo on the front page of the Martinsville Bulletin :o.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: 22midge on February 17, 2012, 21:52:22 PM
a couple of warm days and the stoneflies just might show up in the warm water
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: dossphoto on February 22, 2012, 20:24:33 PM
Looks like we are getting just a little more water than we originally thought.  The graphs leveled out at 109cfs for now.  There could be some sluicing from Philpott during this time as well, so keep an eye out for sudden water level changes.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on February 22, 2012, 20:49:39 PM
Quote from: dossphoto on February 22, 2012, 20:24:33 PM
Looks like we are getting just a little more water than we originally thought.  The graphs leveled out at 109cfs for now.  There could be some sluicing from Philpott during this time as well, so keep an eye out for sudden water level changes.

i was out yesterday and it was wicked low, even in the honey hole. me and woolly are going out tommorow. hope we dont get swept away...  b';
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: 22midge on February 23, 2012, 10:00:04 AM
I believe the flows will be fine since they are mandated to minimum flows........I am more interested in the temperatures for that long of a period becoming constant instead of spikes hi & low.Could be a real good bug producing period for mid- river and below.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: jwhop3 on February 28, 2012, 16:52:29 PM
I agree. I'm ready to give Eggleston Falls, Fieldale Crossing and Marrowbone Creek a try this year.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on February 28, 2012, 17:18:57 PM
Quote from: jwhop3 on February 28, 2012, 16:52:29 PM
I agree. I'm ready to give Eggleston Falls, Fieldale Crossing and Marrowbone Creek a try this year.

the water at eggleston just looks so damn good.... ill get them to cooperate down there one of these days, haven't had the chance to fish it as much as i would like. I'm also seriously interested in what the bug populations will look like with the low water, and let me tell you it is LOW. when me and woolly went out it was low up above the dam and high below it.from my understanding they can generate at mville dam? maybe not, but either way the water was high and then came down about 30 mins after being there. I flipped some rocks down below the dam and saw lots of mayflys and a surprising number of stones. i think dry flies down there will be awesome come warmer weather....not to mention the sulphurs...oooo the sulphurs should be killin it this year...april cant get here fast enough  -0-
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Al on March 03, 2012, 09:30:13 AM
Received this from Brian Williams, Program Manager for Dan River Basin Association (DRBA)  - He is talking about next week, March 5-8.  In my opinion you should go elsewhere next week as 350cfs is too much flow to fish safely

"I got word from the USACE that the current rate  of release at Philpott during the outage has been running around 100 cfs. Due to rising lake levels, they will be opening the sluice gates wider next week beginning Monday morning resulting in a total discharge at the tailrace gauge of about 320 cfs.  They will most likely hold this release at least through Friday, depending on rainfall/inflows."

Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 03, 2012, 10:10:02 AM
Quote from: Al on March 03, 2012, 09:30:13 AM
Received this from Brian Williams, Program Manager for Dan River Basin Association (DRBA)  - He is talking about next week, March 5-8.  In my opinion you should go elsewhere next week as 350cfs is too much flow to fish safely

"I got word from the USACE that the current rate  of release at Philpott during the outage has been running around 100 cfs. Due to rising lake levels, they will be opening the sluice gates wider next week beginning Monday morning resulting in a total discharge at the tailrace gauge of about 320 cfs.  They will most likely hold this release at least through Friday, depending on rainfall/inflows."

how much of an affect will that have below martinsville dam? do you think it will be inaccessible for fishing down that way as well?
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: dossphoto on March 03, 2012, 10:20:21 AM
Martinsville Dam has been running as usual so far. I think generation times have been something like 800am to 300pm, but that could very well change with this added water coming next week.  I would check HERE  (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/va/nwis/uv?site_no=02073000)before going down there just to make sure!!!!!
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: dossphoto on March 03, 2012, 10:30:17 AM
Here is the closest I could come to finding a data point in the flow history for the Philpott gauge that **MIGHT** represent the levels we'll get next week. 
12/21/2011 09:15 EST
3.35' 
366cfs
Here is a data point from today's level.  Which I am getting ready to go test out ;D !
[/size]
03/03/2012 09:00 EST
2.57' 
101cfs 


Look like we'll be just about  9" of water on top of the current level.  Please take this with a grain of salt....it's just a guess and it's only at the Philpott gauge!!
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 03, 2012, 12:06:06 PM
Quote from: dossphoto on March 03, 2012, 10:30:17 AM
Here is the closest I could come to finding a data point in the flow history for the Philpott gauge that **MIGHT** represent the levels we'll get next week. 
12/21/2011 09:15 EST
3.35' 
366cfs
Here is a data point from today's level.  Which I am getting ready to go test out ;D !
[/size]
03/03/2012 09:00 EST
2.57' 
101cfs 


Look like we'll be just about  9" of water on top of the current level.  Please take this with a grain of salt....it's just a guess and it's only at the Philpott gauge!!


good luck man, smack em around for me.  -0-
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: gamatt53 on March 05, 2012, 11:49:45 AM
I was out there Saturday around midriver. I could tell there was a little more water than usual but the fish were still in their normal places - not much bug or surface activity until I had to leave at 3:00   b'; The thing that I did notice however was that the Didymo was much worse than normal down there - need a release to flush that shit out. Nymphing with that crap sucks.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: consumnfire1229 on March 05, 2012, 20:17:32 PM
Quote from: gamatt53 on March 05, 2012, 11:49:45 AM
I was out there Saturday around midriver. I could tell there was a little more water than usual but the fish were still in their normal places - not much bug or surface activity until I had to leave at 3:00   b'; The thing that I did notice however was that the Didymo was much worse than normal down there - need a release to flush that shit out. Nymphing with that crap sucks.

Are you the one that left this on the tracks that spooked me on the way in and on the way out?  I don't think you were considering your description of what part of the river you were fishing.

[attach=2]
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: gamatt53 on March 05, 2012, 22:41:00 PM
 Are you the one that left this on the tracks that spooked me on the way in and on the way out?  I don't think you were considering your description of what part of the river you were fishing.[/quote]

nope wasn't me I leave the snakes alone to do their thing. what kind was it? They love those warm rocks on the tracks i've seen a bunch of em there. 
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: consumnfire1229 on March 06, 2012, 07:08:53 AM


nope wasn't me I leave the snakes alone to do their thing. what kind was it? They love those warm rocks on the tracks i've seen a bunch of em there.
[/quote]

This was a toy snake someone put down as a prank! 
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: gamatt53 on March 06, 2012, 17:25:19 PM
Quote from: Al on March 03, 2012, 09:30:13 AM
"I got word from the USACE that the current rate  of release at Philpott during the outage has been running around 100 cfs. Due to rising lake levels, they will be opening the sluice gates wider next week beginning Monday morning resulting in a total discharge at the tailrace gauge of about 320 cfs.  They will most likely hold this release at least through Friday, depending on rainfall/inflows."

Looks like it's at 390 has anyone tried to fish this flow yet? Too much water? Sounds like it could be interesting honestly
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 06, 2012, 18:16:30 PM
Quote from: gamatt53 on March 06, 2012, 17:25:19 PM
Quote from: Al on March 03, 2012, 09:30:13 AM
"I got word from the USACE that the current rate  of release at Philpott during the outage has been running around 100 cfs. Due to rising lake levels, they will be opening the sluice gates wider next week beginning Monday morning resulting in a total discharge at the tailrace gauge of about 320 cfs.  They will most likely hold this release at least through Friday, depending on rainfall/inflows."

Looks like it's at 390 has anyone tried to fish this flow yet? Too much water? Sounds like it could be interesting honestly

you can get away with wading it, but i fished up around the old spec regs and it is rushhhinnnn. i think the fish are glued to the bottom or stuck to cover. had a couple good bites on streamers but that was about it. 
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Al on March 25, 2012, 13:48:48 PM
Another heads up - Looks like the Smith will be unfishable for the next few days. Call ahead or check the Gage before you spend $4 a gallon for gas.

Received this from DRBA who forwarded notice sent out today from COE - (400-600 cfs is definitely not fishable by wading)

Philpott: 975 ft and rising (GC reaches 973.5 this week). Preliminary plan is to increase releases tomorrow by perhaps 400-600 cfs, but will coordinate and confirm tomorrow.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 25, 2012, 14:00:11 PM
Quote from: Al on March 25, 2012, 13:48:48 PM
Another heads up - Looks like the Smith will be unfishable for the next few days. Call ahead or check the Gage before you spend $4 a gallon for gas.

Received this from DRBA who forwarded notice sent out today from COE - (400-600 cfs is definitely not fishable by wading)

Philpott: 975 ft and rising (GC reaches 973.5 this week). Preliminary plan is to increase releases tomorrow by perhaps 400-600 cfs, but will coordinate and confirm tomorrow.

b';
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 15:56:53 PM
Fin and I, well mostly Fin, scared up 14 today slinging Woolys and Kreelexes above Philptt Bridge. We probably missed as many as we caught. It was a little high and cloudy, not muddy. Tricky wading and got rained on all day, though . No pics, no report. We suck.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 25, 2012, 16:22:56 PM
Quote from: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 15:56:53 PM
Fin and I, well mostly Fin, scared up 14 today slinging Woolys and Kreelexes above Philptt Bridge. We probably missed as many as we caught. It was a little high and cloudy, not muddy. Tricky wading and got rained on all day, though . No pics, no report. We suck.

nice! you're lucky, we only get those washouts that cloud the water up there about 3 maybe 4 times a year. The fish REALLY turn on when that happens i found. You can swing or strip streamers right toward the surface and they will come up and NAIL it. did you catch alot of stockards or mostly browns? if browns, any size? glad you made it out. i dont bother with anything other than the boules it seems like these days, and lord knows i wasn't going down there today...
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 17:08:22 PM
Quote from: phlyfisher on March 25, 2012, 16:22:56 PM
Quote from: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 15:56:53 PM
Fin and I, well mostly Fin, scared up 14 today slinging Woolys and Kreelexes above Philptt Bridge. We probably missed as many as we caught. It was a little high and cloudy, not muddy. Tricky wading and got rained on all day, though . No pics, no report. We suck.

nice! you're lucky, we only get those washouts that cloud the water up there about 3 maybe 4 times a year. The fish REALLY turn on when that happens i found. You can swing or strip streamers right toward the surface and they will come up and NAIL it. did you catch alot of stockards or mostly browns? if browns, any size? glad you made it out. i dont bother with anything other than the boules it seems like these days, and lord knows i wasn't going down there today...

Mostly browns about 9-13. Missed a few bigger ones. Only one was a stocker, and a 12' brookie at that. We fished up and across and down and across. Down was the better tactic. We stripped our arms off and damn near froze----most the wading was nuts or guts deep. Learn to drive upstream sometimes, Mclovin. ;D
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: phlyfisher on March 25, 2012, 17:37:53 PM
Quote from: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 17:08:22 PM
Quote from: phlyfisher on March 25, 2012, 16:22:56 PM
Quote from: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 15:56:53 PM
Fin and I, well mostly Fin, scared up 14 today slinging Woolys and Kreelexes above Philptt Bridge. We probably missed as many as we caught. It was a little high and cloudy, not muddy. Tricky wading and got rained on all day, though . No pics, no report. We suck.

nice! you're lucky, we only get those washouts that cloud the water up there about 3 maybe 4 times a year. The fish REALLY turn on when that happens i found. You can swing or strip streamers right toward the surface and they will come up and NAIL it. did you catch alot of stockards or mostly browns? if browns, any size? glad you made it out. i dont bother with anything other than the boules it seems like these days, and lord knows i wasn't going down there today...

Mostly browns about 9-13. Missed a few bigger ones. Only one was a stocker, and a 12' brookie at that. We fished up and across and down and across. Down was the better tactic. We stripped our arms off and damn near froze----most the wading was nuts or guts deep. Learn to drive upstream sometimes, Mclovin. ;D

i will give you today seeing the water was a mess, but any other time i refuse to step foot above philpot to fish. sick of the cookie cutters and didymo. .... that always suprises the hell out of me how eagerly they take it on the down presentation. I have had my line out in a run, put my rod in between my legs well i screwed around with something else, picked it back up and BAM. never hook those fish coz they make me jump about a foot out of the water. every piece of literature i read claims that presentation technique wont work i say, bullshit.  you have more hoodspa then me to wade that section. i did it once last year and took a nice refreshing swim. some idiot told me it was possible to cross where towne creek comes in...forker... soon as my waders filled up i was quite sure my noots had been frozen off. nice work on the brookies, usually by this time they have been cleaned out. my friend lost a 3 pounder last year at the net. ive only ever managed one...
[attach=1]
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Dougfish on March 25, 2012, 18:03:03 PM
 "you have more hoodspa then me to wade that section."

It was a sight. 6' 3" on tippy toes wading and casting with only two inches of chest waders exposed. Oh, and you couldn't see more than 18" deep. It's called stupidity in action. You know you're fucked when your stripped line fouls on your partly submerged wading jacket.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Al on May 25, 2012, 11:49:28 AM
This just in!!!!!!

Folks at Philpott are in repair mode again and will be releasing water at 340cfs all weekend. That's a little fast for wading and slow for floating so proceed at your own risk. We'll keep you posted if we hear of any changes.

Enjoy the long weekend someplace else. Grrrrrr! b'; b';
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: gamatt53 on May 25, 2012, 12:23:48 PM
hmm good to know. I found the fish on the upper river and around the spec regs much less selective than normal on dries when they were doing this same flow last time. Of course it was a b*tch to wade but good fishing.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Woolly Bugger on May 25, 2012, 13:13:53 PM
I went up there this morning in anticipation of another day of sulfurs hatching in the morning only to be denied by the high flow, no risers what so ever... well except for dinks, and I mean dinks, up on the gravel bars...
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Mudwall Gatewood 3.0 on May 25, 2012, 15:50:00 PM
No risers,  but did you see the yellow hatch?  Thanks Keith.
Title: Re: Smith River Generation(or lack of)
Post by: Woolly Bugger on May 25, 2012, 16:10:18 PM
Quote from: Mudwall Gatewood on May 25, 2012, 15:50:00 PM
No risers,  but did you see the yellow hatch?  Thanks Keith.
no, the bugs didn't come off this morning, and I thought that they would do a full generation at noon, so I split..