Mary and Dave on a Empty River

Mary and Laura were on the drifter a few weeks ago and really had a nice Mom's Day Off with good numbers of nice fish. So when Mary's text hit the phone and said she was bringing Dave back, I knew it was going to be another fun day on the water. We started the float early to get head of the other watercraft and they were into rainbows in just a few casts.

The fish were not rising but they were hungry. After a few casts and some quick mends it all came back to Mary. Dave was a quick study and soon he was setting the fly in the upper lip too. The upper lip of the trout seems to be a good indicator of the right timing and a clean hook-set. There is just enough density there to hold the hook as long as the pressure is applied at just the correct amount.  

Presentation is important. Setting the hook doesn't mean diddly-squat (that's a southern fly fishing term) if the presentation isn't just right. Having been through a day of forced mending fishing in the drifter and Mary figured out exactly what it would take for not only fish, but nice fish too. We were fishing some structure when she dropped the fly in the feeding lane.  The indicator hit the water and slipped into the shade. The fly was on the inside seam against the slower moving water. It began the drift. A quick mend to the right and the line began to speed up. The indicator was bouncing with the riffles, the same speed as the bubbles. It was an excellent mend which lead to just the presentation. The indicator dove just below the surface. It took a second but the rod tip came up and Mary was into a nice rainbow. The fight was between Mary, the fish, and a fair amount of logs. Mary brought the rainbow to the waiting net. We had our first good fish of the day.

Presentation is important... and soon Dave would be in a very similar fight. This fish would come from under a log as well, but the log was laying more in the open. We were hitting structure in open water when Dave launched a good cast and the fly plopped right at the head of the root ball. When a nymph with some weight hits the water and begins to fall, it will a little speed. When the fly reaches the end of the tippet the indicator will turn and dip. This time the indicator did just that. The fly began a drift. Dave wasn't just walking around in the back of the boat, no he was there to fish. His mend was just right. The fly began to creep down the log. The indicator dove, but I thought the fly had stopped on a branch. Well, the guy in the rower's seat can't always be right. Just as I was ready to back up and try to retrieve the fly, Dave was into the fight. The fish came out from the log and tried all the normal rainbow tricks. Dave was there at every turn and then turned the bow into the net. Score another one for the folks in the casting braces.

Mary and Dave basically took turns boating nice rainbows. Nice casting, good presentations and quick fights were bringing fish to the net. I don't know how many fish they caught and can't remember all the good bows they brought to the net, but I can remember this was a good trip...a good trip almost void of other traffic.

The early start paid off and the other watercraft were behind us. Dave and Mary had been the first anglers through the best holes, runs and riffles. They made the most of it too with good presentations and ended the day just as they had started with good rainbows.

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.