Fall on the River with Greg and Mike

The weather is turning from warm weather to wader weather. We worked a little on presentation and delivering the fly, then climbed into the boat. A couple pulls on the oars and the current wrapped around the hull, then we began our drift toward feeding fish. 

It wasn't long before the fish were responding to the nymphs and midges. Greg and Mike were both into fish within the first 10 minutes of their drifts. Business picked up even more when we located a large pod of feeding fish. We collected some doubles along the way as the morning fog lingered.

We continued floating and hitting most of the structure. Creeks that joined the river held some good fish as well. The fish were eating, but not rising and we never really got into good rises. The dries would stay in the box and we would adjusting indicators most of the trip. Later in the afternoon we would have a shot at rising fish.

After lunch we were back on in the drifter and continuing to seek out the best structure. Greg was on the boat a couple months ago and he knows the routine. But this was Mike's first time to fish from the braces. He was in the groove quickly on this trip and began to understand presentation as the shoals passed under the boat one by one.

We stopped along the way to break out the dry flies, but nymphs were still the king of catching. Presentations had to be spot-on and presentations made of anything less wouldn't work on this day. Greg and Mike were both presenting a good fly so there were no worries about getting a bite when we passed the most likely places. On the final leg of the trip we boat a few more fish. The sun began to settle behind the trees and as that happened fishing slowed. We rowed to the takeout and soon the bow touched the gravel bar on another good trip. Greg and Mike, nice job guys it was a pleasure to spend a day on the river. See you on our next float.

The weather continues to move toward waders and fleece. We are moving into shorter days, but there is still time to get good floats where we are presenting flies to feeding fish.

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.

Elton and David Come Back on the Drift Boat

It's been just over a year since Elton and David were on the drifter. So, they are no strangers to our way of presenting the fly. For our trip this year the temperature was 75 degrees and the weather was exceptional, with an early morning fog laying on the river. Under that layer of fog, fish awaited our flies. Elton was on the board early and had already hooked up with several fish while I ran the shuttle.

We moved downstream immediately and began working on presentation. The fishing wasn't setting any records early in the float, but we did net some quality along the way. Early morning nymphs, with a solid dead-drift were the flies of choice. Structure was holding the fish. That structure included the gravel bars and the ends of the long-slow pools. Elton and David were getting in a groove with good mends and solid hooksets. 

The morning continued with hot and cold fishing. After lunch we were back in the drifter with plenty of water left to float. We kept presenting nymphs and moving from one productive stretch of water to the next. Presentations had to be "spot on" to get the results we desired.

It was most anglers favorite time again, time to present dries to feeding fish. Both Elton and David took turns on the dry fly. The fish were a little picky and we went through a large portion of a dry fly box. Parachutes would produce a strike, but the presentation had to be dead-perfect. As we were getting ready to make our next move and the anchor was on the way up, David tossed a small terrestrial into the pod of feeding fish. He hooked up. The anchor went back into the water and soon we were bringing another fish into the net.

We began the drift toward the ramp. Under the watchful eye of the resident osprey the guys continued fishing nymphs and dries. In the shade and away from the afternoon sun the nymph out produced the dry. The guys finished another successful day on the river. This year the catching wasn't quite as easy as last year. The quality was good, the time in the drift boat was therapeutic and the company was outstanding as usual. Thanks Elton and David it was another good day in the drifter.

If you are a seasoned angler or have never picked up a fly rod and want to set up a day on the river e-mail or call/text 615-796-5143 to book a day on the water. For additional booking information see our Homepage and to see the latest fishing report click here.