Greg

Last summer when I was there I fished that lake and did pretty well. It was fun to kind of stalk the fish and cast to them. I didn't catch anything big but took 5 or 6 in the couple of hours I fished it. At one point there was a fairly large school of bows in the middle of the lake. If you cast into the middle of them they spooked. But if you cast slightly ahead of the direction they were swimming - a strike almost everytime. I was using small beadhead nymphs. I only saw trout in the lake except one or 2 bluegills. Greg

I guess they were not running water today John? Sounds like a great day. Greg

I always wondered what the famous PMS fly actually was. Thanks for sharing. Greg

I'll be interested to hear the responses to this question. Personally for years I used small plastic boxes with ripple foam. They worked OK but the midges seemed to always become dislodged and loose in the box which drove me a little crazy at times. 6 months ago I started using a metal box with the individual compartments with the little glass doors over the top. Here's a link: http://www.fishusa.com/tackleshop/catalog_...A70B56&fx=1 Not perfect by any means but it seems to work pretty well. Greg

I'm probably not as knowledgable as the rest but I'm going to chime in too. I've been there once. This past summer during conclave. My wife and I were among the grownups assigned to assist the youth group from the conclave. My son was among the participants and he had a blast. He caught several on a weighted wooly bugger and a lot on smallish scuds and zebra midges. We used 5X tippet. One tip: The current is fairly swift - so wear waders, bring a big net and be prepared to jump in and assist your nephew with netting his fish. At the end of my day at dry run I was absolutely exhausted from chasing fish up and down the river with my net for both my son and the other kids. Worth it though. We'll be back several more times before my son is over the allowed age. Here's a link to a pic - one of the many nice fish he caught that day. http://www.flickr.com/photos/glm38/1520410...57602324841550/ Have fun. Greg

I've fished with Chuck too. I agree he's a great guy and I learned a lot from him. So are the owners/staff at river run outfitters. I try to patronize both shops. I've never caught a fish as large as the one you just described (on a fly rod anyway). But your story reminds me of a fish I caught several years ago. An approximately 8 1/2 lb rainbow on 6X tippet. I had the generator turned on too as I was trying to get him in. I thought I had lost him several times when he got out into the current. But I finally did manage to get him in (luck and maybe a little skill) and get his length and girth. And someone in the crowd that was watching me watching me volunteered to snap a quick pic before I released him. I really had no idea how big he was in pounds but when I talked to Chuck about it later he estimated the 8 1/2 lbs based on the measurements. One of these days I hope to catch a brown of similar size on a fly rod. Greg

Jeremy do you ever fish a small nymph like a zebra below the big ugly? It looks like it would be really buoyant and a great indicator fly. Greg

I'd like to add my thanks as well Jeremy. Great stuff!! Greg

Zander Have you ever tried a mohair leech pattern? I'm like you in that I've had sporadic success with WB's. But the mohair leech is one of my most productive patterns. I'm not sure why that is since they are so similar though. Greg

Thanks Jeremy. Greg

No I didn't come down. Couldn't get away until the afternoon so I headed to Taney instead. Hopefully in the next few weeks though. Greg

Makes sense. Thanks. Greg

Phil (or anyone else) - what was the reason or rationale for shutting off #3? I actually liked fishing that area a little better when there was some flow there. Greg

Funny story Bill. But I can't help but feel bad about the fly rod. Hope it wasn't an expensive one. Greg

Really? Didn't know that. I thought it was Feb 1. Greg

Bill I'm glad you and your client's had a good day. And it's nice to see you back on the forum. I went out for a few hours yesterday too. But my day wasn't nearly as good as yours. I got to the rocking chair hole around 2 PM and fished that area for around 3 hours. One of my poorest days of fishing at Taney ever. I think I brought 6 to hand in that 3 hour period. And it would have been only one fish but I had a little run for a few minutes catching one stocker after another. My problem was the wind. I generally don't mind some wind but this was too much for me. Mending was next to impossible. I also realized as I was heading to my car that I had forgotten to re-up my fishing license and trout stamp for this year!! Whoops. I've never done that before. Still beats a day at work though....... Greg

Sure wish the McClellen's access was still open. Thanks for the info John. Greg

Can Brian or anyone else tell me if the North Fork is fishable/wadable right now? I was thinking of coming down this weekend and didn't know if it was "blown out" from the recent storms? Thanks in advance, Greg

I just can't wet wade our cold water trout areas - Taney, Bennett, Montauk, White, etc even in the dog days of summer. BRRRRR too cold for me!!! The temp in those areas is actually pretty much the same year around so I haven't found the need to vary that much what I wear down below (waders and under them). But up top is a different story of course. Greg

Thanks for the clarification. One other thing I'd like to ask: Do you ever wade up to the old McClennens area from the Ackerman/handicap access. I've received varying opinions about whether of not that is safe. Thank in advance, Greg

John - can I ask where the Ackerman access is? I've been to the norfork several times and the only 2 accesses I know of are up by the dam and the "handicap" access down below. Sounds like a great day. I'm not a big football fan either but did go to a party - I'd rather have been fishing as well. Thanks, Greg

Along with several of the other posters I wear breathables year around. I tried wearing my old neoprenes for a while in the winter but found that fleece pants under the breathables was actually warmer and MUCH more comfortable. Also like one of the other posters - in extremely cold weather I add polypro long underwear under the fleece. I think breathable waders have got to rank as one of the best new products of the last 20 years. Greg

Here's a link to the RS2 fly: http://home.att.net/~ferenc/ Greg

I'm not sure I've ever seen a cheap or reasonably priced winston rod anywhere (even ebay). They seem to hold their resale value remarkably well. But I wish you luck in finding one. Greg

I've definitely had some sucess with streamers - wooly buggers and mohair leeches on the upper current. I've stripped them as you would a streamer and also dead drifted them with good results. Size 8 to 12. Greg