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Smith-Continued

Started by 5xTippett, June 17, 2012, 16:15:23 PM

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creakycane and 9 Guests are viewing this topic.

consumnfire1229

Good stuff...I hope to get back out this weekend!
"Thou shalt know thy waters and be wise about those things upon which thy prey doth feed."  4th Commandment of The Eleven Commandments from the Curtis Creek Manifesto

consumnfire1229

Woke up at 6 this morning, threw some clothes on, and headed to the river.  Made it to the parking area around 6:45.  I completely suited up and realized I left my beverages at home.  I pondered for a little about just hiking in and not worrying about it.  But, I knew if I didn't have something to drink I would wish that I did.  So I got back in the truck, waders and all, and made the couple mile drive back to the nearest store. 

Forgive me if this was one of your cousins, but I made a little remark to the lady at the register, "I know I look ridiculous in this body suit".  But, then she smiled and let out a big laugh and the 1 tooth in her head made me not feel so bad.  Anyway, good laugh and I raced back to the river. 

Its about 7:30 at this time and I still had about a mile hike I was going to make down the tracks.  I don't know what I was so worried about time since I had until about 3 p.m. before I needed to head home. 

Finally got my feet wet, but after an hour I was ready to gouge my eyes out.  I've tried several things at this point and nothing is working.  At about 9:00 a.m.  or a little after a good fish made an awesome rise to something and gave me a little hint that things might start picking up.  It wasn't but a few minutes later and I started getting into some fish.

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Stumpled upon this pile.  It was either a fox or a coyote.  Not sure what happened, but it was surprisingly in tact just to be mainly skull and bones.

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Weatherman, or at the least the source I use, was a little wrong this morning.  It rained off and on on me all morning and I never saw the sun.  But, I had the river to myself so I can't complain.

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Overall the Smith treated me very well today.  Leaves were starting to fall.  Summer is leaving. 

Until next time.

"Thou shalt know thy waters and be wise about those things upon which thy prey doth feed."  4th Commandment of The Eleven Commandments from the Curtis Creek Manifesto

gonephishin'

Awesome job, beautiful browns! I hit the river after work today,  didn't have much time so I stayed close to home and fished below Martinsville dam at the canoe launch. I managed about 10 fish but unfortunately they were all bait!
"Eat, drink, and be merry....for tomorrow we die"

Dougfish

Nice fish! Glad you got out and got into fish and stayed hydrated, Scott. I wish I had the time to join you.  b';
Got the new 9 wt. strung up between chores, though.  ;D

5xTippett

#49
Consumed, you take a lot better pictures than me!  I believe I need to take a photography course.  Anyway, I fished yesterday afternoon and I didn't see a soul.  I got to the parking lot a little after 3 and I was the only one there.  I walked down the tracks a ways and fished back up.  The first hour or so I caught a grand total of 4 fish,  three of which were dinks.  I made it to the next pool about 5 or so and I started catching fish immediately, some of them decent.  After awhile I decided to get out and head toward Bassett to finish the afternoon off downstream.  I stopped midtown and fished for another hour or so and picked up some more fish.  I do enjoy that river, but I was whipped by the time I got home.

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flatlander

Nice work, cousin.  Glad you got out.  Sorry I missed your call yesterday. 'c;

Woolly Bugger



Things were getting hectic around the house with the wifey and teenage
daughter having words. I took the dog and despite the late hour headed
up the road for some piece and quiet. Filled up the car and drove off,
not stopping for any refreshments, but changed my mind and stopped in
at the Citgo, who knew they stocked Fat Tire?

Sally chased rabbits, and I hit the water. I worked hard trying to get
one fish that was up against the bank under a downed limb, and another
fish that was rising from under a submerged log. Both involved impossible
cast, but occasionally I got the drift. They wanted the fly on the twitch,
and timing was critical. While I got them to rise, I failed to land them.

I fished until it was way way dark, that's one way past reason, but there
were some sulfurs coming off and #8 yellow drakes, too. The cloud filled
sky darkened the water and it appeared inky black.  The crickets and
cicadas filled the air with their chirping and the water babbled softly
at 65 cfs.  I managed to get a small ones to hand before it became impossible
to see the fly. As I waded back to the trail, I called for Sally. Soon her
silhouette strobed across the trees along the bank and I heard her paws
pounding the ground. Panting , she laid in the river, and waited for me.


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ex - I'm not going to live with you through one more fishing season!
me -There's a season?

Pastor explains icons to my son: you know like the fish symbol on the back of cars.
My son: My dad has two fish on his car and they're both trout!

Dougfish

Well played 5X and Wolly.   -0-
I need to get back down to the torture chamber.

consumnfire1229

I packed up around 2 p.m.  Looks like the Smith faired well for all of us.   V:;
"Thou shalt know thy waters and be wise about those things upon which thy prey doth feed."  4th Commandment of The Eleven Commandments from the Curtis Creek Manifesto

gonephishin'

Congrats to all of you guys, much better than my bait fish but I just didn't have time! Beautiful fish!
"Eat, drink, and be merry....for tomorrow we die"

Woolly Bugger

#55


Inspired by the cooler weather I ran off with Sally for another round
of abuse on the Smith River. I was able to leave by four which would give me
an acceptable amount of stream time. When we got to the river I realized that
I forgot my hat. Damn, I always fish with a hat. I checked the trunk and back
seat just to make sure there wasn't a spare lying around. Nope, I'll have to
deal with the afternoon glare, and I imagined that it would be difficult to
deal with.  I popped open a Fat Tire and began the walk across the field.
Sally was on full alert, nose held high in the breeze, hoping to catch a scent. 

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First things, first! Lounge around in the cool water after chasing vermin in the field.

When we got to the water I parked my beer on a rock, half submerged in the
cool water, before rigging up my rod. I was in the shade for the moment,
and the sun was illuminating the run on the far side making it easy to see
below the surface. There were a number of midges and a few sulfurs and
grey drakes in the air. A few fish rose, and I turned my head at the sound,
hoping to see the remaining ring.

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The lack of a hat forced me to stand in the shade, which offered a new angle
to the run. I somehow managed a miraculous cast that hooked to the left and
had enough slack in it to allow a nice long drift under the overhanging shrubs.
Bam! Hot stuff! Fucker ran under the log, oh shit. Don't panic! Side pressure;
pull him out from under the obstruction, success! Maybe that deserves another
beer? Na, I'll wait a little longer.

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Although I spotted a number of risers, they weren't all that regular and
the river wasn't exactly on fire. Long drifts close to the bank under the
overhanging trees and rhododendrons passed undisturbed for the most part,
but occasionally a twitch brought on an aggressive strike. Sometimes the
fish missed the fly, and sometimes I landed another stunted Smith River brown.

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Sally hung out on the river for a while, but then was off up in the field
chasing after small game, while I drank beer and chased after trouts.

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Around dusk I saw this large yellow drake, it was huge, and it fluttered
as it emerged, I grabbed the camera with the intent of videoing the fly
as it bounced along the current trying to gain flight. I mashed the wrong
button and only captured this blurred image  just before the fly took off
and flew down the river about a foot above the surface. Twelve feet from
where it became airborne a  brown came up off the bottom and leapt out
of the water, acrobatically spinning as if trying to jump a high bar in
a failed attempt to capture the drake in midair. How that fish tracked
the flying mayfly is beyond me, but it was the wow moment of the day.

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As dusk approached, Sally came back down to the river as I finished up the last Fat Tire.

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When it became too dark to fish, we hiked out. Sally's nose picked up
some scent and she ran off through the field.

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I stopped in at the best place in town before the drive home.

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ex - I'm not going to live with you through one more fishing season!
me -There's a season?

Pastor explains icons to my son: you know like the fish symbol on the back of cars.
My son: My dad has two fish on his car and they're both trout!

5xTippett

Keith, I have seen yellow Drakes from time to time, but I hardly ever see fish eat them.  Neat!

consumnfire1229

Nice report.  I was telling someone today how I wish most of the fish weren't dinks.  But, considering how weary those little guys are, I think there is still something to be said about bringing them to hand. 
"Thou shalt know thy waters and be wise about those things upon which thy prey doth feed."  4th Commandment of The Eleven Commandments from the Curtis Creek Manifesto

croaker

-you can't conquer a free man; the most you can do is kill him.  Robert A. Heinlein.

gonephishin'

Saw a bit of the sampling below Martinsville dam....I'm sure someone will have pics....looking! pretty damn good
"Eat, drink, and be merry....for tomorrow we die"