DaveS
Active member
- Joined
- Feb 18, 2010
- Messages
- 1,031
David, Albatross and myself met at Ramcat Hollow Access just after 6 AM. We planned to float the nine mile section to Ohiopyle. The previous evening’s storm had left its calling card along the mountain roads in the form of fallen limbs and even trees. The air temperature was just over 60. The water was noticeably cooler. We started down the river just after 7AM accompanied by a thin vale of fog. A few small cream caddis were present along with still fewer rising fish. After a short time David and I switched roles, as he took over the oars and I plied the rock rimmed pools with streamers and buggers. It did not take long to boat two natives. Bronzebacks. David rebuffed my offer to retake the oars and boy, am I ever glad he is so selfless.
The next fish will surely be one for the ages. Casting a large Coneheaded/ rubberlegged/ flash-a-bugger, I hooked what at first looked like a carp. But no. Not even a giant smallmouth. It was a beast of a brown trout! Over the next few profanity riddled minutes, we manages to beach all the boats and get the in the river. The nine weight did it’s jobs, and we landed the huge brownie. Alby’s net measured the fish at 23 inches. (I am currently requesting that said net be recalibrated for future reference.) What the net did not measure, but perhaps the pictures will show, was the incredible mass of the fish! In the heat of the moment, I guessed the fish to be over six, and perhaps lbs. Now I think that, 6 lbs is a good-enough guess. Wow what a fish!
As the day continued, we all added to the tally sheet several rainbows in the 15-16 inch class throughout the float. On the flat pools that were rarely void of rafters, sporadic risers to Size 18-20 BWO came with some regularity. Buggers also proved to work throughout the mostly sunny day as well. Later as a thin ribbon of shade grew along the western river bank, David showed that an Iso dry, fish along the chunk-rocks to be the ticket also.
What an exceptional day on the water! And I would have said that even with out the enormous brown trout. I want to say Thank You for Greg and David, for shaving in such a great experience! I’m ready to go again, just say the word!
The next fish will surely be one for the ages. Casting a large Coneheaded/ rubberlegged/ flash-a-bugger, I hooked what at first looked like a carp. But no. Not even a giant smallmouth. It was a beast of a brown trout! Over the next few profanity riddled minutes, we manages to beach all the boats and get the in the river. The nine weight did it’s jobs, and we landed the huge brownie. Alby’s net measured the fish at 23 inches. (I am currently requesting that said net be recalibrated for future reference.) What the net did not measure, but perhaps the pictures will show, was the incredible mass of the fish! In the heat of the moment, I guessed the fish to be over six, and perhaps lbs. Now I think that, 6 lbs is a good-enough guess. Wow what a fish!
As the day continued, we all added to the tally sheet several rainbows in the 15-16 inch class throughout the float. On the flat pools that were rarely void of rafters, sporadic risers to Size 18-20 BWO came with some regularity. Buggers also proved to work throughout the mostly sunny day as well. Later as a thin ribbon of shade grew along the western river bank, David showed that an Iso dry, fish along the chunk-rocks to be the ticket also.
What an exceptional day on the water! And I would have said that even with out the enormous brown trout. I want to say Thank You for Greg and David, for shaving in such a great experience! I’m ready to go again, just say the word!
