TROUT TAILS - MAR 21 2011

NUMBER: 2011-010

DATE:  03-18/19-2011
WEATHER:  P-CLOUDY 40 ^OF

LOCATION:  LITTLE JUNIATA RIVER

FLOW:  780 cfs

SPENT THURSDAY NIGHT PACKING AND DEVELOPING ONE OF A SERIES OF NEW STREAMER PATTERNS TIED WITH ABOUT HALF A CHICKEN’S WORTH OF FEATHERS TO USE ON THE CLARION THIS WEEKEND AND ANY OTHER TIME I’M HUNTING FOR BIG BROWNS…. LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, I DROVE 3 HOURS TO THE CLARION TO RUN SHUTTLE FOR MY BUDDIES TOM AND JOHN.  RIVER HAD SLOWLY BEEN CLIMBING ALL DAY AND WAS A LITTLE OFF COLOR, BUT THEY DID MANAGE A FEW NICE SIZED FISH.  AFTER I PICKED THEM UP, WE GRABBED SOME DINNER AND A HOTEL IN HOPES OF FLOATING IT AGAIN IN THE MORNING.  WOKE UP AROUND 6AM AND CHECKED TO FLOW TO SEE THAT IT HAD ONLY CONTINUED TO CLIMBED OVERNIGHT.  CALLED AN AUDIBLE AND PACKED ALL THE GEAR AND HEADED BACK TOWARDS STATE COLLEGE TO FISH THE LITTLE J.  GUESS THE ONLY BROWN TROUT I WAS GOING TO SEE ON THE CLARION THIS WEEKEND WAS THE CARVED ONE AT THE RESTAURANT LAST NIGHT. 

ARRIVED ON THE J A LITTLE AFTER 8AM.  WATER LOOKED GREAT!  GEARED UP,  RAN SHUTTLES, AND MANAGED TO BE FISHING BY 9.  TOM’S NEW TWO MAN PONTOON WORKED OUT GREAT.   MANAGED A GOOD NUMBER OF 12-14 INCH BROWNS, POUNDING THE BANKS WITH STREAMERS AS WE FLOATED.  WE ALSO DID OK NYMPHING A FEW RUNS ALONG THE WAY.  EVEN SAW SOME CADDIS COMING OFF AND AN OCCASIONAL RISER. PRETTY GOOD DAY ON THE WATER.   IN THE END, I THINK WE MADE THE RIGHT CALL, DESPITE TRAVELING ACROSS HALF THE STATE.   

SOME EXCITING NEWS: COMING SOON TO TCO FLY SHOPS, WILL BE SEVERAL OF MY PRINTS FOR SALE.  PRINTS WILL BE 8 X 10 IN AN 11X14 ACID FREE MAT WITH A FOAM BOARD BACKER.  DETAILS TO FOLLOW SOON!!!!!

END REPORT