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My wife Vicky, daughter Cassandra and I arrived at the River of Life Farm on
Friday night March 15, after arranging this trip on short notice. I talked with
Myron, our good friend and host, for just a bit after we arrived, then dropped in on
my brother David who was staying at the "Tree
House" Cabin. He sure looked
surprised! His trip was planned in advance...mine wasn't. We then went to our cabin, the
"Mountain Log
Lookout" to get settled in for the night
in order to get an early start fishing on Saturday.
Date: March 15-16, 2003
Water: North Fork of the White-Missouri
Saturday Time: 06:30 - 10:00, 17:00 - 18:00
Sunday Time: 06:15 - 10:30
Water Temperature: Not checked
Flow: 490
Water Conditions: Slight Tint,
Temperature: 60 F
Wind: Calm
Sat Weather Conditions: Overcast early, Sunny in the afternoon.
Sun Weather Conditions: Sunny
Hatch Information
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#14 Hendrickson?
#16 Olive Caddis
Was hoping for a stonefly hatch.
Flies Used-Saturday
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#8 Titanic Stonefly-Dk Brown
#14 Hare's Ear-Olive
#16 Copper John
#14 CDC & Elk-Olive
#14 EHC-Tan
#16 CDC & Elk-Olive
#14 Elk Hair Caddis-Tan
Flies Used-Sunday
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#16 Copper John
#8 Titanic Stonefly-Dk Brown
#10 Bitch Creek Nymph
#8 Bee-Otch Creek Nymph
#8 Double Header Stonefly-Brown
#8 Kauffman Golden Stone Nymph
#6 Kauffman Black Stone Nymph
#12 BH Prince
#14 Stalcup Caddis Larva-Olive
#10 CR Gold
#16 Copper John-Black
#14 Adams
#14 OBA
#16 BWO
Log Notes-Saturday
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David and I were out early, as David would be leaving around 8:00 a.m. to
float the River with an ROLF guide, Shelby Nold. It was a beautiful foggy
morning on the river. We started out at Jack's Riffle below the Falls. I
turned over some rocks and seined the water, found a couple of olive mayfly
nymphs. I tied on a #14 Olive Hare's Ear and #16 Copper John dropper.
Caught several small fish and had a couple of good fish LDR's also. Allot of
action, but not much to brag about. About that time, we saw Shelby putting
in his drift boat. David and Shelby asked me along, but as I had family
time scheduled for later, I was obliged to decline the offer with much
thanks for the thought. I waved them off and they headed on downstream for
the remainder of the morning. I worked upstream to The Falls after an hour
or so and fished the near side of the tailout on the ROLF side from the
middle of the river just below the falls. I again checked for aquatic insects and this time came up with a big black stonefly nymph and then a
golden stonefly nymph, both about a size 6. I tied on the Dark Brown Titanic Stonefly nymph and caught a quality Rainbow just over 15" after
covering most of the water. I was fishing weighted and deep (under an indicator). It was a good sized WILD Rainbow in fast water... Wow...what
else need I say? Quit for the morning at about 10:00 a.m to have breakfast
with my family. Myron and I picked David and Shelby up at Blair Bridge
about 12:30 p.m. According to Shelby, David caught 4 nice fish between
14-16 ". 2 Browns, and 2 Rainbows. I will leave the details up to David to
share if he wishes. <smile>
Went back out late afternoon about 5:00 p.m. Compound hatch included possibly a couple different mayflies and allot of Caddishly flying upriver.
A few fish were rising, caught some chubs and had a couple of Rainbows take
the Olive CDC & Elk, but they ended up LDR. Got a bit excited after that
and set the hook too hard on the next one, and broke my 6X tippet. That was
the only CDC & Elk that I had in that color and size. Tried a smaller size
in the olive and the same size in tan to no avail. Quit for the evening,
but had a great day.
Log Notes-Sunday
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Fished several point flies, always with the Copper John dropper @ Jacks
Riffle on the far side from ROLF. Fished the near seam of the fastest water, heavily weighted and deep. Caught one really nice fish, a big, fat
Rainbow just under 17". This is the biggest wild Rainbow that I have caught
in the North Fork... so far. Also caught another in the 13 or 14" range.
Both fish were taken on the Copper John and were allot of fun in the fast
current. We had a hatch of mayflies around 10:30 a.m. and a couple of rising fish about 50' out. Tried several dry mayfly imitations, but
couldn't seem to find what they wanted.
We couldn't get a close look at those mayflies, and I now think that they
may have been Hendrickson's. I had just tied a few Quill Gordons last week,
but for some inexplicable reason, I didn't think to throw them. Oh well, my
presentation was likely the problem anyway. It was a great week-end and all
the better that it was so unexpected. I didn't catch allot of fish, but I
fished smarter than I have in awhile. The payoff was a few beautiful, wary
and wild Rainbows. I caught the ones that I wanted...and the best thing
is....they are still there!
Thank you Myron, Ann & Family!
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