Fly Fishing On The James During A Thunderstorm

[duckydoty]

Took the fly rod over to Blunk Hole about 6 p.m. last night. All parking spots were full and 17 vehicles were parked along the road with boat trailers. I managed to fing a place to park and walked down to the boat ramp. Ran into a few buddies that I only see on the water this time of year. While talking to them and getting thier fishing reports the wind started picking up and the rain started falling. Next thing I knew thier were 25 boats lined up to take out. It was after 7:30 p.m. before we could launch our boat. We could see some lightning on the horizon and the last few boats on the water headed for the ramp. By the time the lightning got to us, we were the only ones on the river. Could not get a bite during the storm but once it passed the fishing really got good. Had to use a 7ft. sinking leader to get to the depth that the fish wanted. Purple/grey and purple/pink clousers caught a limit for me.

[Micheal Kyle]

Yes it is hot, Wished I had one of those leaders last night too so I could catch a bunch of Whites but I did manage 5 shy of a limit. However I was using a 24ft 150gr Rio DC Sinking tip. That was putting it right where the Walleye wanted it. Caught several nice ones last night. Grey/White Clouser Had a good time last night Duane I will see you tonight.

I Still cant belive everyone left befor the storm we just beached the boat on the gravel bar and stood with our backs to rain. Every now and then our hair would stand up but after 45min it passed and then it was hot.

I even heard a faint sound that sounded like Wille

DID YOU SEE THAT, NO, WELL THEN YOU MISSED IT

[Sam]

I'm glad you had good trips. Fly fishing seems to be the ticket - my partner and I were there yesterday and the fly fishermen seemed to be doing best, by far.

We put in about 11 a.m. and left about 5:30 because we could see that mess at the ramp coming. We fished between the Blunk Road ramp and Ashercane with swimming minnows on lead head jigs, casting, slow-trolling, and drifting with the wind. We only managed 14 white bass between us because they were being picky and acting like white bass. We'd catch 2 or 3, then there'd be a three-hour dry spell. Lots of boats and bank fishermen, some got limits and some didn't do as well as we did.

I was REAL sorry to find the private ramp and campground at McCord Bend closed, permanently. A neighbor there told us some campers got drunk and rowdy, started fires and burned down a trailer, and the owner decided to close it. Man, I'm gonna miss that place - I've had some great trips out of there for the last 20 years.

I'm not gonna use that Blunk Road ramp again, ever. I'll put in at Bridgeport and run up or use the private three-dollar hole at the first bend below McCord and launch off the beach, before I go through that again. The ramp's just awful, the parking's worse, and it took us 30 minutes to get out AFTER we had the boat on the trailer. Rigs were parked all along the road, two other rigs that had taken out were lined up behind us trying to get out, and three more trucks with boats behind were trying to come in. All three of them had to back up a couple hundred yards with about 6 inches to spare, with trucks and trailers parked on one side and a ditch you could drop a pickup in on the other. I'd say there were at least 100 vehicles, most with trailers, parked somewhere around the ramp - and there's room to park maybe 25. No more of that, for me.

[Fishhand]

You guys tore 'em up!!! Way to go!!! I wasn't able to get out yesterday. Had a couple of buddies that fished and they caught two limits again! Most of 'em came out of the hole and clay bank at Long's Camp. But, they said they caught them everywhere. Had one walleye in the 24" range. Can't wait to get out there this weekend! Tight lines!

[Wesley]

Where is blunk hole ramp?

[Jason Essary]

Wesley,

Its just out of galena, someone can tell you better cause I havent used it in years.

Went this morning, Hit the water at 5am. Fished for eyes till 615. gave up and caught a limit of whites by 7 and headed crappie fishin. Hope this cold weather doesnt slow the bite.

[timsfly]

I'm just glad Duane was around to help Michael catch some whites

How many eyes did you catch Michael ?

I fished R.R. this morning landed 10 whites, and two small walleyes, both

were around 14" a few largemouth and several bluegill.

Caught most of mine on white/gray clousers and chartruse clousers

both with a bit of flash, fished on a 10' sink tip 6wt fly line.

[duckydoty]

Fished again this afternoon/evening. Got there about 4 p.m. and wade fished the gravel bar across from Blunk Ramp. There was pretty much no bite till after dark. From 7:30 till 9 P.M. I landed 14 or 15 whites. Let them all go tonight. Looking forward to Michael's report. Passed him on the way out as he was coming in.

[Wesley]

Is anyone catching crappies up the james, if so how deep.

[Fly_Guy]

Someone over there pulled a Flathead catfish out - was that you guys? I had to leave shortly after dark , but picked up several black bass, including an 18" smallmouth.