Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: Onslow on May 31, 2016, 16:43:00 PM

Title: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Onslow on May 31, 2016, 16:43:00 PM


Found a watershed on the Old Plateau that hasn't been filled with ag sediment.  This should be interesting.

Apparently the area landowners would rather not have would be anglers messing around their front yards located near bridges.  Kinda figured this was the case in advanced and planned a discreet remote entry.  Picked up a deer path, ended up in a semi dry drainage and boom...within 6 minutes, I was in the water.  Still had a #2 PE variant on the line from the last trip.  Walked up the creek a bit which at this point, was shallow very clean cobble shoal.

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Didn't think there was a prayer of catching anything at this feature with what I had on the end of the line.  Chucked to the right, a 12 incher tried to munch it.  Threw to the left, engaged a 15 incher for a second and it came unglued.  Pleasantly surprised at the quality fish found in this shallowish water, I thought perhaps I should leave the PE on for a bit longer.  The rock above the low ledge in the pic above produced a very pleasantly colored brookie ~8-9.  The brookie was spared the ordeal of being photographed.  Within the first hour, I had fought and lost 6 fish, and had over a dozen strikes.  Tied on four different offerings before settling on one that retained the fish.  Also spooked an 18 incher.  This stream had the goods.

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Wild Geranium

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All of the flora seemed to be benefiting from the rich soil.

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The trip thus far was awesome.  Lost a ton of fish, had at least 16 at hand by 10.30.  Watching a bobcat cross the creek at the downed tree in the distance in the pic above was the icing on the cake.  It rock hopped until reaching the tree on the right, then proceeded to jump without interruption and walk the tree across the stream.

I had to return the way I came.  I'd covered about 1.2 miles.  Managed to get back to the truck at 11.30, ate lunch, and broke out the 3# rod.  My truck was parked on a ridge....stream #1 was on the left, a trib was located on the left.  Hiked down the woods to stream #2 briefly

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Was hoping for some brookie action here.  The first fish I attempted to bring to the had was a brown.  Could have swore #2 was an 11 inch bow, but lost it right at hand.

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Three fish hole

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Lost a 12 incher here.

12.45, I took off back to the truck.  The last 45 minutes have been sufficiently productive.

I had big plans for the remainder of the day.  I had scouted a river Sunday pm and though for sure I had found a viable remote access located at a very inaccessible gorge  I thought would be brown heaven.  The first attempt to enter was interesting.  Barking dogs joined me, but I wasn't deterred. I made it about a third of the way down and was severely impeded by dead rhodo thickets.  The dogs had alerted folk and someone was cruising back and forth at the rd.  I emerged and made another attempt to enter a bit further down the road via a semi dry drainage.  Same bullshit.  Drove around a bit looking for remote accesses for other nearby creeks and did not score.  Rough ass hood too.

Finally spent some time fishing a wretched hatchery section.  Moved a few small browns, but that was it.

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The day being cut short wasn't a terrible tragedy.  Banged out a TR before supper!
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Dee-Vo on May 31, 2016, 17:21:02 PM
Bringin' the damned goods, boys. That's one sweet-ass piece of water and gorgeous at that.

The bobcat had to of been a highlight. That's pretty rare. I've only seen one or two. Them bitches are slick.

Sucks about the last flow. At least you know. Top notch, dude.
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Yallerhammer on May 31, 2016, 17:51:13 PM
Hell yeah! That's some solid fish! Now, what the hell is a "PE?" Peanut Envy? I'm off to tie some in #2. :D
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Woolly Bugger on May 31, 2016, 17:53:36 PM
Super sized hard core [attachment id=0 msg=142159]
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Onslow on May 31, 2016, 18:07:22 PM
Quote from: Yallerhammer on May 31, 2016, 17:51:13 PM
Hell yeah! That's some solid fish! Now, what the hell is a "PE?" Peanut Envy? I'm off to tie some in #2. :D

Yep.  Got many hits with the Peanut, but couldn't seal the deal with anything except for the brookie....yes the brookie chomped the bitch.  Gold brown #4 girdle sealed the deal @ creek #1.

Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Dee-Vo on May 31, 2016, 18:11:54 PM
I've been surprised many times at how aggressively towards a formidable sized fly that a brookie will attack. Brazen little creatures.
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Yallerhammer on May 31, 2016, 18:15:21 PM
Quote from: Dee-Vo on May 31, 2016, 18:11:54 PM
I've been surprised many times at how aggressively towards a formidable sized fly that a brookie will attack. Brazen little creatures.
Back when I was about 10 years old, I caught a 12 -inch speck on a big black live spring lizard about 5" long. Never caught another one that big since then.
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Dee-Vo on May 31, 2016, 18:24:52 PM
I believe it. I've seen dudes using live minnows like you'd use for crappie.
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Al on May 31, 2016, 19:33:58 PM
Not too shabby -  'c; bd;0 'c; bd;0 'c; bd;0
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: ptfranze on May 31, 2016, 19:35:33 PM
Looks like an awesome day.  Sucks about the last stream but that first one produced some nice browns 'c; 'c;
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Jfey on May 31, 2016, 20:31:05 PM
Awesome as always.  I imagine that you didn't even break stride when the dogs started barking.  Most would be high-tailing it out of there.
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Dougfish on June 01, 2016, 05:30:54 AM
 -+;
As usual...... 'c;
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Big J on June 01, 2016, 17:27:04 PM
Dang man.  V:;
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Woolly Bugger on June 01, 2016, 17:49:23 PM
I got chased / harassed by a pack of dogs up on Bullhead #7 once a long time ago, not a fan


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Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Onslow on June 01, 2016, 19:05:41 PM
Quote from: Woolly Bugger on June 01, 2016, 17:49:23 PM
I got chased / harassed by a pack of dogs up on Bullhead #7 once a long time ago, not a fan


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Yikes :o  Did any make contact with you?

Took me years to overcome the childhood fear feral dogs.  My last consequential encounter involved about 30 dogs in Franklin Cnty in 1994, many of which were pit bulls.  Thankfully I was carrying a rifle and dropped two, after which compelled them to  dispersed.  I believe I would have been devoured by pack being they were approaching me quietly and were within 30'.  More recently, I was alerted by the sounds of the hounds of hell over the roar of rapids while fishing in Patrick Cnty VA.  My inability to determine the amount of dogs due to the noise really elevated my anxiety.  I prepared myself for battle with a stout stick and some rocks...over the bluff comes a slight coyote followed by three feral beagles in hot pursuit. :laugh:  A bear defense canister is on my shopping list.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2015/06/16/chart-the-animals-that-are-most-likely-to-kill-you-this-summer/

Thankfully the yapping dogs on this outing were domesticated.  I was more concerned about agitating the owner of the ill kept mobile home across the road.  I'm not one who appreciates any form of attention when readying to embark on a hike on privately held property.

Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: BrookieHunter on June 01, 2016, 19:53:27 PM
 Hell yea, those are some nice fish 'c;
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Dee-Vo on June 01, 2016, 21:20:06 PM
The bear spray is usually on my side. Would work well on most critters and/or folks.  ;D
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: Yallerhammer on June 02, 2016, 05:29:05 AM
Quote from: Dee-Vo on June 01, 2016, 21:20:06 PM
The bear spray is usually on my side. Would work well on most critters and/or folks.  ;D

My bear/feral dog/psychopath spray is a Glock 23 with an extra mag in my pocket. Also would work well on most critters/folks. :D
Title: Re: Exploring near Doug's Widowmaker
Post by: joe friday on June 02, 2016, 08:27:32 AM
your reports are always very motivating!  thanks for sharing.