Recent posts

#11

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.

#12

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?

 

#13

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.

#14

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.

#15

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

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 11, 2024, 15:47:15 PM

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.

#16

Local Trip Reports / Re: Smith-Continued

Last post by Dougfish - April 11, 2024, 10:32:05 AM

#3

Still slow to get on the water this year.
And days 2 & 3 proved to be slow fishing.
Swung soft hackles, dry/droppered.
Probably should have euroed.
Saw Bobby for the first time in many months.



Marrried now. And gonna be be a daddy in September.
He had a slow day, too.

Went back on Monday. Similar results.
Went upstream first. Yawn.
Back to the usual. Yawn. Should have gone downstream?
At least the fauna was good.
Bluebells were finishing, Twinleaf was done.





Trilliums.







Star Chickeed, Sessile leaf Bellflower, and Bluets.







Swallowtails are out in bunches.



Got buzzed but 3 F-18's as I crossed the field.



Cheers. not many fish were harmed.
Brookie adventure is next.



 

#17

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

Last post by Phil - April 11, 2024, 10:31:20 AM

Fred and Woolly gitten' em!! 

#18

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

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 11, 2024, 08:58:02 AM

I feel special! Fred took me out in his new ride. Stuck you in the beater.

His wife said,   "I wouldn't let that Woolly fellow ride in your new boat. He seems kind of sketchy to me. I don't know why you keep inviting him"

And he's trying to sell it to me!

#19

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

Last post by driver - April 11, 2024, 07:01:19 AM

I feel special! Fred took me out in his new ride. Stuck you in the beater.

#20

Local Trip Reports / Re: Smith-Continued

Last post by Woolly Bugger - April 10, 2024, 20:48:30 PM

"The "Rod of the Day", was a St. Croix 7'8" Legend Ultra 3 wt."

My go-to 3 wt for small streams even if it is a little stout. Fast action sure comes in handy when throwing a pair of bead heads in a stiff wind. Still has a fine touch though, so a good compromise in my opinion. Mine is an early 3 piece while Trout_Girl's is a later 4 piece. Nice rods I bought from the Champions before they got the shop in TN.

Well, I had my right knee replaced by a robot on Tuesday.  Not the most fun so far, but they say it just takes time and patience and everyone I know who did it says it was the best thing they ever did. Doesn't feel that way right now but I'm a wimp at heart, so there's that. 

TB (now just mostly original)

My St. Croix is a 3 piece

Good luck with your new knee. All I can say is do your rehab!

I just got my 3 ORTHOVISC shots in my right knee — jury is out on effectiveness