Tan Vat / Baptist/ Park...in That Order

[Morgan F.]

Had the opportunity to head to the river with a buddy Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. Got on the water at Tan Vat around 8am on Tuesday and fished down stream. Caught several fish on hopper dropper with the dropper being black or brown zebra midge. All fish caught were on the dropper. Both my buddy and I had several fish short-take on the hopper but nothing hooked. For us it seemed as if they were starting to shy away from the hopper, though I guess it could have been our set-up too.

We fished fairly slow on our way down the river. It wasn't long before we could hear a generator running upstream. We cold hear the generator getting closer and closer as the next hour went by. Sure enough...they were shocking the river. Luckily they stopped for lunch at the riffle above me and got to fish below them for another 1/2 hour to an hour. Caught several more fish before we packed up and went to claim a camping site.

The guys on the shock team were really nice guys. Had the chance to talk with them for a bit and banter back and forth. They were shocking down to the hole above baptist. Saw them shock up some really nice fish while they were working right where I finished fishing...all in all a pretty cool thing to see...just wish it didn't affect the fishing like it does.

We got camp set up in the park and headed below Baptist for the evening fish. First time for me fishing below Baptist...and I always love seeing new water. Caught a 1/2 dozen or so more fish before calling it a night and heading back to make some coals to cook with before it got too late. Lamb Ribs for dinner...first time for that too...not too bad!

With the river having just been shocked we decided to fish the park on Wednesday morning. Neither one of us had fished the park in quite a while so it was nice to get back in there and see that again. Fished down from the spring and caught another 1/2 dozen or so...fairly slow morning for us....but a great morning to be on the water (both days).

Neither one of us caught anything very big...a 15 inch or so brown was my biggest, but as always...we had a lot of fun just being on the water.

Next up...The White and Norfolk in October...can't wait!

Have a good one!

Morgan

[jgentile]

Thanks for the report. I was on the river last year fishing up stream from Baptist when the survey was taking place. Didn't get as close to the action as you however.

I believe the survey takes place from Tan Vat to Baptist then Baptist down to Ashley Creek and if memory serves each stretch is surveyed twice.

One stretch you could have fished was from the wire down to Tan Vat. It doesn't help you now, but keep it in mind if you find yourself on the upper Current the last week in September next year and hear that generator coming.

Joe

[Gavin]

They shock from the Park to Baptist...and the other stretch is between Ashley & Parker....It kills a ton of minnows, so the fish will be full for a couple days...Thanks for the report.

[Morgan F.]

Jgentile - I like fishing below the cable as well...the MDC guys had let us know that they had shocked that too. Though several gentlemen were fishing up that direction and seemed as though they still caught some fish...didn't get specifics from them though...just parking lot banter. I need to get back up that direction...haven't fished below the cable yet this year. I always seem to catch fish above Tan Vat to the cable...I have just been having fun exploring below Tan Vat this year!

Gavin - I'm not sure if the shocking stimulates the fish just below where the MCD team is at at any given point, but after speaking with them and fishing just below them (100+ yards or so)...the fishing was ON! Maybe it was due to the minnows. Kind of felt as though I was cheating a bit as I was getting a hit every/every other cast. I could see a bunch of minnows and several stunned sucker fish floating down. I never even thought about tying on a streamer to see about capitalizing on the minnows coming down. Though I was catching/missing plenty of hits on the zebra midge.

Thanks for the reply's guys!

Happy Fishing!