Sunday, Matt fished a big BWO hatch that lasted several hours. Fish ate a thorax BWO dry like candy . Did not need a dropper. All that it does in that situation is get in the way. But that was Sunday. Then the dreaded warm weather moved in.  Highs in the low 70′s .  Actually beautiful weather , unless you like BWO hatches and solitude.  I have come to realize that flyfishing to me is not social event. Sometimes I wish I could be more the other way. I admire those who use it as group gathering and a social occasion. Maybe it is just the mountain fisherman in me. Or the old bird hunter in me. I have spent so much time alone on the water. Or chasing quail with just me and a good bird dog or two. The exception has always been Matt. He and I chased birds and trout together so much [ before he became a guide] that we were able to be together but keep that solitide feeling. Of course, now that he guides , we very seldom get to fish together.  Yuk!Sometimes it would nice to share a hatch with someone . Or show off a big fish to.  But I don’t know that you can share a deep feeling. Or the satisfaction of a good rise form. Or the love of a gentle take off the top. But for those of you who can , without losing the depth of the feeling, I salute you.

Now about the fishing. Tuesday was not near the BWO hatch [ thanks to warmer temperatures and sun shine] Still tons of blackfly spinners on the water and ever so supple rises. I understand it was a very good nymph fishing day. I decided to commit to a soft hackle to try to improve my skills.  Been fishing one that is tied with  a D-Rib body and partridge for the soft hackle.  Has been very good to me. The D-Rib is so much tougher than  pheasant tail. You are not going to tear it up. And it makes such a distinct segemented body. It has caught some very nice fish late in the afternoons for me.

Wednesday, I went to the Watauga looking for the signs of Black Caddis’. There weren’t many but a few showed up on my wader legs. In a week or two that hatch will light that river up.  The nymph fishing was good.  That same D-Rib ties a very nice nymph body, that will not tear up.  Matt and I have been fishing this pattern for many years . It has always been deadly here and most say, anywhere they fish it. Caught fish but the flow on the Watauga was tough on this old body. It whipped me quick. I am not in the shape I used to be went I chased bird dogs all the time.

Hopefully TVA will give us a generation break this week-end. They are projecting good wading schedules. So watch for some olives, blackflies and go ahead and throw a Sulphur Nymph at them. It isn’t long at all before the cases will break open and the Big Yellow Bugs will be on the water.

 Now a word from our Sponsors: I got 6 New AAA Hungarian Full Skins [ with tail and both wings attached] in yesterday. They are the best Skins I have seen. They are full. The Capes on each side of the neck are loaded with grey feathers. Many many size 18′s in them.  And of course 16′s and larger eveywhere. The backs are loaded with the brown feathers for caddis soft hackles and nyphm legs. These are priced at $26 and worth a million $ . If you are a soft hackler [ if that is a word] you know what I mean.

Call me . I will guarantee you liking these skins. Their are not many Hun skins left. The Shooting preserve business across the country has sufferd from these economic times. So Huns are scarce. I will keep looking.

Also have some very nice AA’s for $15. Just don’t have as amny of the 18′s on them . But plenty of grey’s for sulphur soft hackles.

As Roy Rogers said “Until we meet again.”

Rod Champion