jah

A friend of mine and I fished Saturday from about 9 am until about 7 pm. We started at Baptist Camp and played "dodge the canoe" for 2 hours. It was slow at first, but we got into a few at the first deep hole. It's tough NOT to get into a few there. I had two on Prince nymphs and one on an olive wooly worm as my bottom fly. Things got better as we moved downstream, but the fishing was very odd. We'd catch 3 immediately, then go an hour and not catch anything, and back again to 3 in a row. We ate lunch back at the car at 3 then headed to Tan Vat. We knocked them dead above the swimming hole where there are downed trees. That's fast becoming my favorite spot. TONS of fish could be seen just holding there. I did foul hook a 21 inch brown. I didn't realize he was foul hooked until near the end. I have never had a fish fight like this, and I thought he may be foul hooked because when they are, they fight. But he kept showing me his head, so I thought it was legit until he got almost to the net. I felt awful then that I fought him for so long. I am happy to say he revived quickly and swam away very rapidly. It was the largest fish I have ever "caught" in the Current, too bad it wasn't legit. The swimming hole gave up a few fish, also, despite 3 young boy's best efforts to scare them away. And at about 6:30 my friend destroyed them below the swimming hole on a black stonefly. He couldn't keep them off the hook. The day ended in perfect fashion for me---a rainbow darted up out of nowhere and took my Hopper. Love dry fly fishing! Tried it all day and had nothing until my second to last cast. I also saw my very first river otter, so that was cool. Water was lower than I thought it would be and gin clear. Mayflies were hatching all day, and I only saw a few caddis.

I fished it last week and had some friends fish it this past weekend. I caught nothing and got mauled by the largest black flies I have ever seen. I was fishing deep as I could in the Cabin Hole and felt like I was wasting my time. I tried everything from woolies, Pats, eggs, san juans, dynamite, etc. The water was at about 350 cfs, which I always think is perfect for wading there. I wish I would have tried downstream from the Cardiac riffle. I have never been down there towards suicide hill. My friends were also skunked and frustrated. That doesn't mean it doesn't fish well. It may just mean we suck. But for my money, I'd rather drive an extra hour and hit Baptist Camp. If I don't have an extra hour, I'll be sure to load up on the DEET.

I cannot answer your Parker question, but I can answer the Baptist water question. I love it there and have always caught fish in that stretch. Granted, when it's tough I tie on a globall, but I have yet to be skunked there. In fact, I have had days where I have caught upwards of 50-60 fish, and I am by no means an expert. Would I have caught 50-60 without a globall? No chance! But I have caught loads on nymphs, but you have to get deep. As deep as you can. Loads of split shot and a thingamabobber to hold the weight and float. I love that water, especially with how popular it seems Tan Vat is becoming. If you want to catch fish, tie on an orange egg under a prince, add a large piece of lead 6 inches above, a thingamabobber 9 ft above that, and hold on. If you're a purist and cannot stomach fishing an egg, then try princes and any nymph with lots of flash fished deep.

Did you have your Acme anvil and fall off a cliff trying to catch it?

definitely not wearing waders. I was just thinking that the water may be too deep to wade through around that bend. I was wading by myself and I don't take many chances when I am alone there. I think I could have made it but it was touchy.

I have been there four times in the last 2 weeks, 5 hours at a time, and I can count on one hand the number of fish that I saw rise. Granted I am usually there in the middle of the day.

I thought the same thing as you (i.e. use smaller tippet), but after talking to the guys at Hargroves, they said use 3x or 4x floro and I'd be fine. I was skeptical when they said this, but I always listen to them because they know infinitely more than me. The water was gin clear and low and the 3x/4x was making no difference to the fish. Honestly I would have only caught about 10 had it not been for the orange or pink globall. I was there for 6 hours. This has been the same story the last 3 times down there---globall tears them up. But 3 weeks ago I was knocking them dead on a combination of prices with a green caddis larva dropper. They wouldn't touch it the last 3 times, however, so I had to switch to egg pattern. Funny how that works---once you think you figure it out, it doesn't work the next time.

Fished Baptist Camp today and caught at least 40. Perhaps more, and it was the best day I have had on the Current so far. 90% of the fish came on egg patterns (either orange or pink), so in a way I feel like I was cheating. The other fish came on Prince nymphs, flash Princes and green copper johns. The egg patterns were like crack-cocaine to these fish. Nearly every cast in every deep hole I was into a fish. I caught a very nice brown (16 inches) right along the bank---and that seemed to be the key---fish across stream against the banks that were cut out by the flooding. I used a thingamabobber on my furled leader about 4 feet above my first fly. Had a dropper on all day about 8 inches below the lead fly. 3x floro to the first fly, 5x to the dropper. A large split shop got the flies down quickly. I have a question--I'd like to fish my way down to Ashley Creek, but I am not sure how to get below the sharp S bend in the River. I get as far as the tree that was sawed recently right across from the very sandy, large gravel bar. I was able to cross there, but I didn't see a foot trail at all. How do I get below that hole? Do I have to bushwack it? I thought I read somewhere that there is a trail on that side of the river. Does anyone know?

I love it...

I am using one of Troy's furled leaders and I love it! I almost exclusively nymph fish, and even though I have one of his floating furled leaders, I have caught more fish in my last 2 outings than my previous 10 combined. It is so easy to untangle bird's nests, change tippet, etc. I cannot believe how I have fished without them. I was skeptical about nymphing with them and spooking fish, but, like I said, I have been doing very well on the Current with them. I use a thingamabobber and it hooks perfectly to the furled leader and NEVER slips or kinks the line. My wife is mad that I don't have one on hers, but I have 5 more mono leaders to go through before she gets a furled leader--I bought them before I knew how much I would like a furled one, so now we (she) has to use them up.

I'm a soccer nut, and my wife is from England. June 12 was supposed to be the best day ever. Fly to Denver, watch the game, and then go to the U2 show. Alas Bono broke his back and cancelled the tour. Either way, England is missing Rio Ferdinand, and Rooney is borderline unfit, so hopefully we'll pull it off. I may be divorced by June 13 if the US wins!

Thanks for the tip about the rice. I put my wife to work on it immediately!

My wife and I are both teachers, so we're fortunate to have about 30 little trips planned this summer. We went on our first one Tuesday and headed to the NFWR. We stopped at Baptist Camp on the Current on the way. I immediately discovered that I left my nippers at home, so I had to run back to Montauk store, but by then we decided just to head down and set up camp at Sunburst. Off to a poor start. Talked at length with Justin Spencer about fishing the river and he dropped us off below Rainbow Spring. We had the idea that we were going to wade fish from various gravel bars like we do on the Eleven Point, but it was not that easy. The water was up and the current was incredibly swift even where it looked benign. I did manage one rainbow pretty early on, so I thought it was going to be quite easy. That was my last fish on the North Fork that day. Beautiful river, I just didn't know the right places I guess. The water was up, too. We never saw the "falls". I have no idea where they could have even been. I know they are below the ROLF sign, but we saw nothing that looked even 'fall-like'. I had the right tackle, I think. Pat's, woolies, princes, lots of weight, chuck and duck, super deep, etc. But I think my drift must suck. Any advice would be great. Justin and Amy were fantastic hosts, too. So my wife and I then decided to drive back up to the Current yesterday and got to Tan Vat at dusk. We absolutely tore them apart below the chute on Pats and egg patterns. I then fished the swimming hole and did very well on small nymphs. It was like Chilly Willy---every cast pulling out a fish. It stormed for 3 hours late Wednesday, but the river looked the exact same this morning when we went back. I caught about 15 more this morning in the swimming hole---95% on Princes. And I FINALLY understand the 'swing" I caught a bunch this way. We went to the lodge for breakfast and I talked her into letting me fish some more. I fished upstream at the tree and knocked them dead on nymphs. Summary: NFWR--awesome river, but get a guide at least for your first trip, if not more. Current--fishing awesome with small nymphs and soft hackle partridge and 3x floro I would have attached all my pictures but I dropped my camera into the feeder creek that flows into the Current at Tan Vat. Some knuckleheads built a huge dam there trying to block the creek. It was causing severe erosion of the pebble beach so I took about 15 minutes and removed as many rocks as I could to get it back to its natural flow. In doing so, I dropped my camera into the creek. No good deed goes unpunished.

Arrived at Tan Vat at 8:45 am this morning to find it packed with people who also thought it was a great day to fish. We then drove to Baptist Camp to avoid the crowds. At the first hole my wife and my brother both caught 2 12 inch rainbows on a Pat's Rubber leg stonefly. My wife caught another on that same pattern before we headed downstream. I caught a brown and a rainbow on a Prince, and then I heard my wife screaming for me. Her rod tip was virtually in the water bent over as she was fighting a beautiful brown. It was her biggest fish to date, and she caught it on a Pat's again. She fought it quite long, so I didn't take the time to measure it, but I will attach the picture as soon as I figure out how. Then I heard her scream again as a HUGE (5ft) water snake bolted out of the weeds between us and crossed the river. It was massive, We ate lunch and headed to Tan Vat and fished the chute below the swimming hole. We missed every fish there, but we had about 5 on. My best "misses" came on a Black Stonefly and an Olive Wooley. The water was off color, running fast, and a lot of people were there. Can someone help me upload my pictures? I am clicking "attach" but it is telling me that nothing is attached. Thanks for any help! Jim Fishing June 2010 013.pdf Fishing June 2010 009.pdf Fishing June 2010 006.pdf

Sure...here you go: http://www.bigyflyco.com/items/nymphs/nprl-detail.htm

Arrived at Tan Vat at 8:45 am this morning to find it packed with people who also thought it was a great day to fish. We then drove to Baptist Camp to avoid the crowds. At the first hole my wife and my brother both caught 2 12 inch rainbows on a Pat's Rubber leg stonefly. My wife caught another on that same pattern before we headed downstream. I caught a brown and a rainbow on a Prince, and then I heard my wife screaming for me. Her rod tip was virtually in the water bent over as she was fighting a beautiful brown. It was her biggest fish to date, and she caught it on a Pat's again. She fought it quite long, so I didn't take the time to measure it, but I will attach the picture as soon as I figure out how. Then I heard her scream again as a HUGE (5ft) water snake bolted out of the weeds between us and crossed the river. It was massive, We ate lunch and headed to Tan Vat and fished the chute below the swimming hole. We missed every fish there, but we had about 5 on. My best "misses" came on a Black Stonefly and an Olive Wooley. The water was off color, running fast, and a lot of people were there. Can someone help me upload my pictures? I am clicking "attach" but it is telling me that nothing is attached. Thanks for any help! Jim

I just spoke with someone at the lodge and he said that wading even tomorrow will be "far from ideal". He said it drops in the park quickly at first, as the guage is showing, but then levels off and drops slowly after the rapid initial decline. I'm dying to get down there tomorrow, but is it dumb to attempt wading in the park tomorrow afternoon? Should I sit this one out, or do you guys think it'll be okay in the park?

Al- You use tippet that heavy on the Current below Montauk? Maybe I'm using too light of tippet because I use a 5x leader with 6x tippet. Is that too light??

I was wondering if anyone has ever backcountry camped and fished in RMNP? I have been there 4 times, and heading out for my 5th trip in August with my wife. We are hiring a guide from Kirk's Fly Shop for the first day, but we are on our own after that. We would love to backcountry camp and fish for 2 nights. Does anyone have any suggestions? I have several books on the topic, but would love to hear from some locals and their experience/suggestions. Thanks! Jim

My wife and I are planning on coming down this summer to fish the NFWR for the first time. We fish the Current alot, and we have camped out on the 11 Point. Are there gravel bars where we can camp on the river on the NF like there are on the 11 Point? If so, can anyone recommend a starting/camping/taking out point for a 2 day, one night trip? What outfitter should we use? Thanks....and thanks for the above recommendations on flies. I just received my Pat's rubber legs and my wife just bought me a streamer box for all my big stuff. We can't wait

KSBass- I sent you a PM, but it's my first time ever doing that so I'm not sure if you got it. I'm interested in trying the furled leader, and I'll pay for them (no need to give one free to me since the cause is a good one). If you check your email, you should have my address and my questions. Just let me know how to pay....thanks!! Jim

Out of curiosity, Justin, how do you cast it? With a 9 foot leader, and a dropper (I assume) below your first fly, it seems awkward to cast such a rig. I assume you roll cast? I like using them for fast water, too, and since I always use a dropper, I have difficulty casting them. I find myself tangled when I try to move the thingamabobber too high on my leader.

About 100 yards! I only had about an hour to fish as my wife was waiting patiently for me in the car. I fished the deep hole below the first riffle downstream of the parking lot. There was no need to go anywhere else, especially because 2 other groups decided to fish on either side of me. I didn't want to play the cat and mouse game of going below/above them, so I stayed put.

very busy. it was tough to find spots at times, especially downstream of Tan Vat.

My wife and I camped at Eagle Springs (I think that's the name) next to Tan Vat and fished all afternoon Saturday and Sunday morning. The skies were bright blue and the temps were around 80. The water was up a bit and a little off color. I spent most of my time untangling my wife, but she had a few strong strikes on a globall. I was skunked. The fishing was just tough. Sunday morning was a different story. I was the first one there and fished just below the 'waterfall'. I caught 6 in about 20 minutes. All but one of the fish (5 rainbows, 1 brown) came on a big rubber-legged stone fly that I use typically on the Eleven Point. The guys at T Hargroves told me it would also work on the Current, and they were correct. I had it tied under an egg pattern, so maybe it worked as an attractor. My apologies for forgetting my camera, but none of the fish were over 12 inches anyway. There were loads of caddis on Saturday, but no fish rising to them. Saturday morning there was a mayfly hatch, but no fish rising to them, either. If you camp at that Eagle place, be forewarned that there aren't many level spots. I felt like I was sleeping while standing up. But it's great to be able to walk to Tan Vat.