[jonathan creason]

Started up 601 this morning, fully intent on going to the Ararat but I ended up behind a chicken truck above Booneville with nowhere to pass. I was getting pretty tired of following him about the time I got to the intersection to cut over to Zephyr Rd., and before I knew it I was turning left.

I pulled up to the river, got ready (and managed to keep up with my keys this time), and eased into a deep, slow pool. On the third drift my indicator disappeared, and with a quick set it was game on. I fought this healthy rainbow for a minute or so, but finally it shook the hook loose as I was getting it close. I'd estimate the fish to be at least in the 15-17" range, which would be a PB on the fly rod. After a few more drifts with no action I started working upstream, focusing on the deepest water. I fished 100 yards or so past the deep bend without any luck, so I decided to hike back and try the first pool one more time.

i made a few drifts with no luck, so I tried slowly stripping a wooly bugger. On the second cast with this method I had another fish on. This one was a smaller, 12" or so, typical stocker, but I lost him too right beside me. Not too worried about the "hands off" releases, the water was too dang cold to mess around with them anyway. All-in-all, a decent quick trip.

j

 

[wademaster]

I've done well with a woolly bugger there.....what did you try initially? 99% of the trout I catch are completely hands off. I usually net them, get a pic if I want and dip the net back into the water and let him ease out of it back into the stream.

 

[jonathan creason]

I had a bugger on the entire trip, with a dropper of some sort. First fish was on a blackish bugger just drifted and twitched. I tried midges and hare's ear droppers, but no luck on those.