Marshall Ford To Rockhouse, 4/24-25

[zthomas]

Had planned on launching Friday, but pushed it back a day with the severe weather forecast. Saturday afternoon was sunny and humid, but the temperature dropped in the evening and a few showers rolled through. Sunday morning was cool and drizzly. The $30 Walmart special shelter I bought before the trip in case of rain was was more than worth it.

It was a gorgeous stretch of river with big bluffs, lots of good fishing water and plenty of nice camp spots. With around 700 cfs and 4.5 feet on the Berryville gauge, there was plenty of flow, even with a heavily loaded 17-foot canoe. We picked the wrong route and had to drag it over shallow bars maybe three times. Easy overnighter with plenty of time to fish. Saw only two other groups.

Fishing was much better than two weeks ago. Still nothing big, but lots of smallmouth from 8 to 14 inches and plenty of goggle eye. Turned over one nice fish on a popper just a couple rod-lengths from the boat. Otherwise, chartreuse bugger stripped a foot or so below the surface was the hottest fly I tried.

Somehow managed to forget the card for my camera, so have only a few pics my father shot.

Thanks again for the advice on the previous topic!

[Coldspring]

Nice pick of the the smallie. I've always wanted to float the Kings, and, after reading about the Nature Conservacy aquistition, I decided this would be the year. I'm definitely going to check out the Kings in the next 6 weeks!

[eric1978]

Nice lookin' float. Thanks for sharing.

[Andy & JoAnne]

I'm with Eric...nice pics of your float. Thanks for sharing

[Dan Kreher]

  On 4/27/2010 at 2:50 PM, zthomas said:

Had planned on launching Friday, but pushed it back a day with the severe weather forecast. Saturday afternoon was sunny and humid, but the temperature dropped in the evening and a few showers rolled through. Sunday morning was cool and drizzly. The $30 Walmart special shelter I bought before the trip in case of rain was was more than worth it.

It was a gorgeous stretch of river with big bluffs, lots of good fishing water and plenty of nice camp spots. With around 700 cfs and 4.5 feet on the Berryville gauge, there was plenty of flow, even with a heavily loaded 17-foot canoe. We picked the wrong route and had to drag it over shallow bars maybe three times. Easy overnighter with plenty of time to fish. Saw only two other groups.

Fishing was much better than two weeks ago. Still nothing big, but lots of smallmouth from 8 to 14 inches and plenty of goggle eye. Turned over one nice fish on a popper just a couple rod-lengths from the boat. Otherwise, chartreuse bugger stripped a foot or so below the surface was the hottest fly I tried.

Somehow managed to forget the card for my camera, so have only a few pics my father shot.

Thanks again for the advice on the previous topic!

I knew I'd been away from the Kings for far too long. I'm putting Marble to Rockhouse back on my list for this May. I never get tired of looking at that pretty south-facing bluff about half-way between Marshall and Rockhouse. Judging from my attached photo taken some 7 years ago, that gravel bar hasn't changed much over the years either. Thanks for the report and those pics.

[Danimal]

I see you camped under the Eagles Roost.Buddy of mine proposed to his wife there. They were enjoying a glass of wine after dinner while camping there and he had some friends hang a huge WILL YOU MARRY ME banner from the cliff. Next time you camp there, look for the small tributary flowing in from the river left bank right after the sharp bend. Hike about 1/3 mile up the trib and you'll find a spectacular 30 foot waterfall that cascades through a hole in the overhanging bluff. Dan-o

[zthomas]

Dang, that's the kind of thing that makes the rest of us look bad.

Do you think it's the little stream flowing in between the trees just left of center in this photo? We were camped directly across from it--wish I'd known...

ZT

[Danimal]

That's it. Here's a picture at low water. Probably would have a little more water flowing through while you guys were there. Dan-o