Drawn by Dennis Gammon.

Took my one man pontoon boat and floated the North Fork River from Kelly Ford to Blair. This was the first time I used my new pontoon boat, it was awesome! It took me a few hours to get used to it but after that the fishing got easier.

I would drop the anchor to keep me pointed down stream so I could cast and keep my body in the right direction. Next time I will bring my fins for my boots so I can maneuver in the water better with out having to touch my oars. I had to set my rod down every time to use the oars, which made me miss, a lot of water.

The fishing was better then I expected. Last time I fished this stream was probably 8 years ago. Then I only caught one rainbow trout. This time I caught a total of eighteen. Fourteen of these were rainbows and the rest browns. The rainbows had more color to them then I have ever seen before. The largest bow being 14’’ and the largest brown being 12’’. Heard a story from another gentlemen that his buddy caught a brown the day before that measured 21’’.

I hooked a nice rainbow just before a riffle and while fighting the fish I realized my boat was going through the riffle without me. Panic set in immediately. I snapped the fish off and started running downstream to catch it. I had the anchor down but with it being a round anchor it slowed the boat only a little. I must have run after it for half a mile before it stopped on the other side of the river. I had to find a spot downstream to cross and walk back upstream to get the boat. This was the best catch of the day and I was exhausted afterwards so I sat in the boat to rest. I had a sip of scotch and a cigar to reward my stupidity and hard work. The scotch was for stupidity and the cigar for hard work. Next time I will have a bungee cord strapped across the front of the pontoons (a trick learned from a fellow pontooner who saw me chasing my boat) so when I hop off my seat the cord keeps the boat with me. I missed a good section of water during my chase too. Oh well, live and learn.

The hot flies of the day for me were a brown lead head roach pattern and prince nymph size 14 & 16. The temperature was 60 degrees and sunny. I only  came across four other people flyfishing all day. The solitude was great.

I would like to thank Myron from River of Life Farm Outfitters who gave me some pointers and dropped me off at Kelly and then picked me up at Blair right on time.

Thanks,

Dennis Gammon

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