Watauga 1/05/08

Well, I can't think of a better way to start the year off than by hitting the river with new and old friends. The day started out before light, hitching the boat up and heading out towards JC to hit the Mighty Watauga. The generators were off and reports had been coming in all week of pigs being caught...nuff said. Kris and I had planned on fishing all week...something that doesn't happen very often anymore with our conflicting work schedules. And after some arm twisting, new friend Romer agreed to come along. I'd met Brett sometime ago while working at Orvis and was more than happy to have him along. Since the recent closing of the campground at the start of the "quality zone" the usual half day trip from the campground to the bridge is no more. So, we decided to put in at the TVA access and float down to Persinger Bridge. Although I'm pretty sure that this spring with hold some insane fishing due to the closure and lower wade fishing pressure, I liked the old way, being able to fish the lower section more thoroughly. But anyway...we'll see. Back to the fishing, it was alittle slow at first. We spoke with another drifter and he said that the day before was slow until the sun hit and warmed the water alittle. He was right on. We really didn't catch much of anything until things warmed up and even after than it wasn't the typical "knock your waders off" type of action usually found there. Kris had a nice catch site fishing a slower section. There were a couple nice fish probably 18 and 20 inches respectively feeding at the bottom just behind a small shoal. Brett and I both saw the fish and the take. Kris saw the fish but has learned to just watch the indicator. Things went slow-mo, then...fish on. I had my shining moment when we anchored up just below smallings bridge. I probably caught 8-10 fish in a matter of thirty minutes. Just had the right combination at the right time. One of those times where you just, "act like you've been there." Romer tied into several nice fish throughout the day and really started to figure 'em out through the shoals. Romer is a great caster and a hell of a fisherman...and welcome in my boat any day...Just have to get him up to speed at the oars.
I don't care what anyone says...fishing from a drift boat is a different ball game. Yes, it is (imho) more fun and you can more easily fish the entire river, but everything from your length of cast to mending to constantly changing flies due to the constant changing river bottom can be alittle over whelming the first time out. That being said, when everything comes together it's a beautiful thing. Just one more facet of this addiction we call flyfishing.

One side note:
Kris actually stayed awake the whole ride home!!!