Jeff Wilkins
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Registered: 02-2006
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Smith River 9-1-2006
Guided Trip , Smith R., Ray W , WV, 1/2 day trip, we fished in Tropical conditions to say the least, wind, rain, rain, rain, heavy rain, and a very muddy lower river, in fact below the Bullocks Rd. bridge above Blackberry Creek the river was unfishable, and it was FULL even though they were not generating...incredible. We started around 7:00am at the upper end of the special reg water, I knew from past experience that we could have a good day streamer fishing if Town Creek were not too muddy. We got in, the water was muddy but not red mud muddy with a visibility underwater of around 6-10". I could see the gravel in the riffs, I felt like this could be a day that we could do well with streamers and buggers. I tied on a size 12 Conehead Bugger black pearl and we got a fish, maybe a 10" brown on the second cast, two more boils, then we moved upstream, to the next riff, two more browns, a couple more boils, wow. We moved up to the pool at the mouth of Town Creek, caught three more browns, one a good one 13". We walked a few yards right to where the mouth of Town Creek dumps in, it was very muddy but mixed in with "clouds" of clear water, we had several follows and boils too, three more browns, another 13" or so, and of all things about a 12" Largemouth bass. In almost twenty years of fishing this river have never seen a bass there. We went back downstream, got to the head of the mirror pool, and for about the next hour and a half, caught a fish about every 5-10 feet we walked, plus many boils and follows. Got down to the bend and caught another nicer fish, maybe 12"or 13", plus several other smaller fish. We fished a short way below that down to the Lefthander's hole, and then decided to take a break and walk out. We had lunch and then drove up toward the dam and put in about a 1/2 mile above Town Creek. There were a few rising fish, but the water was painstaking clear as usual and the fish were tough. Some #24 Pseudos coming off, we quit at 2:15 so Ray could to Greensboro by late afternoon. He was a good fly fisherman! I got in below the lower bridge at the Chair plant, walked downstream to the bend, caught maybe 6 or 7 browns on the same bugger we had used in the morning. Had numerous other boils and/or follows. Walked back upstream to the bridge, where the special regs section starts, and fished to each bank as I walked upstream and caught maybe another 6 or 8 fish, and again lots of follows and boils. The water came up, and I went down to Town and hit a couple of holes, one at the church, I knew held some good fish, but no luck the water had become a bit too muddy, though I did lightly stick a couple of good ones that came off. The water came up again and I tried a couple of other spots, the TB Stanley bridge, and the bridge at Fieldale. The water was Mississippi muddy down there! After it clears it will be great nymphing here for a few days because the water tends to remain a litle "hazy". A great day, and I can remember from my fly shop days I used to tell friends and customers that a muddy day can be a good one if you are willing to fish big uglies.
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