| Following is a recap of a recent trip to my cabin at McKee Bridge on the beautiful North Fork River. I have been fishing North Fork waters for over 25 years. Jack Hammock (first run below falls named for him), Bob Moore, and yours truly discovered Myron and the River of Life Farm when the size of the Farm's family was only four--Myron, Ann, Jeremy, & Rebecca.
The three of us would leave home (Quincy, Illinois) after a school activity (we were all school people) on a Friday night and drive straight through and sleep for a few hours at Kelly’s' Ford. We would then fish all day on Saturday and until noon on Sunday before heading home.
Back in those days we would fish the tellico, black stonefly, prince, and woolly buggers. Guess what? We still fish those patterns. Anyway, I brought my two grandsons, Robb (age 18) and Luke (age 7) down to my cabin, along with Grandma. On good Friday we floated with Luke sitting on the cooler and Robb flaying the waters. The fishing between the Falls and Sunburst was just average. I did not fish but instead put Robb in the runs while I held the canoe.
For those who float this is the best way to pick up fish--walk through the runs allowing your partner to fish. Don't canoe through because you will spook the fish. If the run is too shallow to fish then leave the canoe above the run and walk down and fish the deep water below the riffle.
Robb picked up 8 trout of varying sizes. We took out at James Bridge. The traffic on the river on Good Friday was heavy with floaters and fishermen. Most of the trout were picked up on a stonefly (box canyon variety). Ninety per cent of the trout I catch on these waters is with this fly. I fish it deep whenever possible.
On Saturday, my daughter, her husband, and my granddaughter arrived at the cabin. My granddaughter played a soccer game in Jefferson City earlier in the day. We all went to Church Saturday evening in West Plains which allowed us to float on Easter Sunday. Robb and his dad were in one canoe with Gramps taking Alli in the other. We started fishing in Jack's Run where Alli hooked up with a rainbow on her first cast. She didn't land it but it but she enjoyed the action.
Alli took five fish in the third run above Blair Bridge--two twin Browns (15 inches) and one Bow the same size. All-in-all she landed ten fish during the float while Robb picked up six. Later on that day Robb caught five more fishing at the top of Rainbow alley. Almost all of the fish were picked up on the stonefly (described earlier). Both Robb and Alli were quite pleased with the day. The weather was beautiful. As usual, Myron was very accommodating with the
canoe
shuttles.
Bob DeVries |
