I was anticipating the day as Jeremy and I loaded the canoe after being dropped of at Kelly Ford by Myron Saturday morning. The day was warm and overcast—certainly encouraging conditions. The first few steps into the water and feeling that cold North Fork added to my optimism. To me, there is just nothing like that first feeling of the cold water running past the waders. I knew it was going to be a good day.
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Jeremy put me on a nice trout on the second cast, the first of about a half dozen for the day. Needless to say, there were also a few misses. I seem to learn an important fishing lesson on just about every trip. This lesson was taught with this first fish. I was in a hurry to get the prince nymph in the water. Jason was prospecting upstream, when I finally made the second cast and hooked up. Problem was I had left the landing net back in the canoe! The rainbow wouldn’t cooperate for a beaching, and I was 25 yards from the canoe. I worked the fish back to within five feet of the boat and had the leader through the tip when he finally escaped. Size? He gets bigger every time I tell the story.
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Our original plan was to float to Blair Bridge, but we were having such a good day that we waded most of Rainbow Alley and called it a day at the Falls. The picture is one of the catch from the Alley.
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Half of the casts with deep nymphs ended with algae on the fly or line. Myron’s admonition to “be humble” came to mind several times during the day. Still, specifically targeting the holes with nymphs is the formula for larger fish, and Jeremy knew the holes.
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| The next day was spent working the stream along the farm. Overnight, several anglers came in with a group from Feather Craft from St. Louis. Along with being outstanding fishermen, these guys were great examples of sportsmanship and courtesy. What a great day! I spent most of the time experimenting with top waters and wet flies such as the diving caddis. Got into some smaller fish and picked up some ideas for the next trip. I also enjoyed swapping stories with many of the campers. |
My wife, Janet, has brought me to the Tree Top Hideaway each of the last few Memorial Day weekends as a birthday celebration.
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We’re looking forward to two or more trips each year.
If you have not experienced the fight of a fifteen inch wild rainbow, a trip to The River of Life Farm should be in your future..
Ed McCarthy |
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