Fishing Report 7/22/16

[Ham]

I started out with high hopes for a big numbers day and an ever hopeful shot at the slam. I for Two River Flyshop to shuttle me. I start started at 0800. In the morning, in my Jackson Coosa Floating down with an eye out for rising water. After the high water came on, I would run home and grab the jet. Should be awesome, epic, Field and Stream worthy. Ehhhhhh, no.

I paid some dues. I learned some lessons the hard way, and just had some tough luck.

4 hours seems like enough time, but I have not done the Norfork at the new minimum flow. There have also been some changes with each low water event. I was not prepared for the number of bait fisherman below the first big pool down into Long Hole. And it seems that any skill I have obtained with the Zig Jig was bought at the expense of whatever fly rod skill I had. So, I was constantly re-rigging. There was nothing I do could do to avoid incredible tangles. I re-learned how important it is to check your rig frequently and make sure your depth is right. I'm always, always, always going to have a net with me. Trout took several flys from me by taking a hard run after I had caught them and was trying to take a pic or untangle them or slip the barbless fly out. So frustrating.

I did get a little flurry of fish to hand as the rise hit. I had some real thumpers in high current. As the water maxed out, the water got really trashy. So, I paddled out and loaded the boat in 97 degree sunshine. I got a Brook Trout on the fly so a Slam was in play. 

got home and got cooled off. Loaded the jet boat and after cooling down again, I took off for Quarry Park. Mid day heat had run a few folks off. Motor started on second pull and then slowly died out while I was letting it run to warm up. I suspect I have a piece of trash our something that stops fuel flow. It would not re-start. It did this when I was with Stein and Dave, but it eventually re-started. No problem. I have a trolling motor, I'll stay in this top pool. Trolling motor could slowly make it back upstream to ramp.

I was getting bites and catching fish. I was missing too many hits though. Might have been the fish and it might have been me. Working my way down through the docks. Well guess what. The flow in the lower third of that pool was much faster than the upper third. I could not go upstream. Bummer. I pulled on the Merc. A lot. The good folks of Gene's trout docked towed me back up to the ramp. Grrrrr.

once I had the boat on the trailer, pulled on the Merc and it fired up. I started and stopped it a half dozen times without issue. So what to do? I went fishing again. I Caught a few more fish including a nice Brown. Never caught my Cutt. 

I fished a total of 6 hours. I got 22 to hand. Pretty sad. it was a frustrating day. I'll post a few pics later. 

[Ham]