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I have recently returned from my seventh consecutive year fishing the
North Fork, this is my favorite water. For several of those years I was able
to fish a week in the spring and fall, as well as winter. I have been fortunate to fish at least a week at a time. Seeing the river at extremely
low and high water conditions and catching fish in these various circumstances. It is due to my experience’s at the North Fork that Myron has
asked me to write up a report. The most recent trip occurred Oct. 20-26. The river level was back up to
normal, for this time of year, which was good to see. For the past two years
the water levels were very low. Due to the low water levels the fish, in the
past, were redistributed to the deeper holes. I was glad to see old areas I
had fished in the past were once again active. I was told the fishing was
particularly difficult, but I did not find it that way. Let me say at the
outset, I'm "old school." My primary preference is drys, emergers, wets, and
when the situation calls (and it must be pretty severe) for it nymphs and
streamers. On arrival I fished Jack's Run approx. 5:15 p.m. and seeing the
small BWO hatch coming off I put on an emerger pattern and had good success
till dark. In fact the BWO emerger patterns I fished, in size from 18- 22
were successful for me the entire week. It is also the reason I didn't get
in the water before 11or 12 p.m. The cold mornings kept the hatch activity
low till late morning, as the day warmed the BWO activity increased. In mid-week the "one who got away" happened at Cave Riffle. The hit was
hard and line started going off my reel at a alarming rate, trying to move
down stream, which was difficult since I was in a deep hole, the fish dived
(just like a brownie) and I was left with moss on my hook, but there's a
very good fish there. Through out the week I caught fish. The smallest a 10"
rainbow the largest a very thick bodied 15" brown. There was only one day in
which I did not catch fish, the last day, which I fished for only three
hours. As always the North Fork more than meant my fishing expectations, not
to mention Myron and Anne and the kids which add the human touch of hospitality and kindness that make River of Life the place I love to fish.
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