Nortrad

Veeery interesting technique, thanks Gavin.

We're coming down to the Current. N. Fork's 1200+ and rising. You guys don't hurt their jaws too much.

May have to go to Plan B, or "C", as in "Current."

Dang! Hopefully 24 hrs. will bring a drop, 1140 and rising at 10:45 this morning. May have to go to Plan B if Saturday night doesn't look good.

Welcome! Now I'm really trying to control myself. Heading down to fish from ROLF to Patrick on Sunday. Hopefully we'll get into some fish, especially a couple like these. Very nice!

Looks like the Jedi got the go ahead and we are hitting the N. Fork on Sunday, canoe, stop, wade, fish, repeat, ROLF to Patrick Bridge. Gearing up, only my 3rd try at this great river, was a big-time padawan then, now, we shall see if the Force is strong in this one...Good luck and post some nice pics like you always do.

Boys, boys, stop it, killing me here with this excellent fishing. Nice work 'gentlemen,' I use that term loosely... Read John Barr, "Double Slumps" fishing a large and small streamer, very similar to this technique. Again, excellent report.

Thanks for the advice.

Contemplating a trip down on Sunday, but the rain on Thursday has me concerned, especially when the river's at 1070 cfs and climbing now. Advice, Brian?

FYI, pictures aren't showing up on your blog.

Sounds good, going after the big boy or girl with big flies. The Jedi wants to try the N. Fork, so I guess I posted too early. But, if his wifey denies the request, we'll be down, or I'll be down for sure. If not, good luck. I know you guys will do well, with nice pics to post I'm sure. Water might be up and off-color, depending on how Thursday/Thursday night goes, which should help.

Chance, you boys don't get carried away Sat. night. I'll be over to Tan Vat Sunday morning, maybe the Jedi will go along too. We'll be there probably after you guys, if you start early. Going to be chilly Sat. night. You guys will have 'antifreeze' going though...;)Should pull in TV around 6:30 or so. Lucky OK boys...

Excellent report. There's nothing like waking up next to the river and knowing you'll be wading in to find a fish.

Man oh man, what a rainbow! I've considered taking on the Chubby Muffin streamer. Have to get some craft fur though, hmmm....

Those Current brown pics, very nice.

True that, slinging streamers is 'labor intensive' and will get a few follows, a few chases, a few short strikes,some attacks and hook up's. With that said, my best fish two landed on the Current were with a big, black Bugger on one, and a little #16 Rick Fox Poopah on the other. My fishing bud, the Jedi, who got me back into this obsession/sport, hooked 4 18-20" browns on midges last year. It's game of opportunity, skill, luck, technique, etc. It's not a 'wild' fishery like many in the West, but it's still a great stream. We are so lucky to be able to fish year-round, the 'premier' streams in MT, CO, UT etc. are frozen or running off when we are fishing, except for a few tailwaters of course. So, Chance, we are lucky to have the Current. Again, pick up the litter and don't do yourself, report the reg violations.

Chris lands another beauty, nice work.

You are fine and in the right, don't let it drag you down. The park fish are for taking. Great report and it's good to hear that midges were working in the Blue Ribbon stretch.

Welcome, it appears you had them dialed in. Been waiting for a Baptist report, not quite 'dialed in' there yet...time will tell. Good work and keep posting.

Well said...let's all try to preserve it by picking up the trash and reminding those who are not following reg's to follow them so the fishery lasts.

Gavin you're killin' me with these pics of the big ones from the January trips....nice fish...

Point taken Gavin. You must learn how to fish this stream. I do not fish it like I did when I first started. It's challenging, no guarantee's, that's what makes it a great stream.

I would agree that pressure has increased, especially from those who normally do not fish the Blue Ribbon area, namely park fishermen. I have also found and cleaned up beer cans, styrofoam worm boxes, and power bait jars when fishing the Parker's area. So, between those who violate the reg's and a lot of fishermen, new fly/lure fishermen also, not just exclusively park fishermen, the trout population is getting harrassed. They were a little skittish before, they're even tougher to catch. I would also agree that the stream catch rates cycle up/down. I'm also going to concentrate more on the N. Fork and 11 Point this year. Going to hassle my fishing bud to load up the canoe. Not giving up on the Current, just going to more places.

Sounds like high fast water. I've drifted streamers under and stripped/swam them. Tie a loop knot of your choice so the streamer jigs up and down, let it swing, strip it across, jerk strip it, you have to vary the retrieve a lot. Sometimes you can just dead drift and a couple of strips at the end of the drift. Again, fish the slack, sides, feeder creeks, water that seems unlikely in normal flow, they're there, resting out of the fast flow, waiting for a bait fish to come by. You'll catch a few fish, and, probably, one that's bigger than usual. This is good water for spin fishermen, they'll chase those lures for sure.

Ted's right, dark streamers, sink tip, throw to shallows, they're resting out of the main current. Or, lotsa weight under an indicator, big split shot, weighted flies, I mean heavy, chuck 'n' duck. Use big rubber legs, buggers and something bright like SJW's/eggs/scuds trailing your main heavy fly, and, mend, mend, mend...