North Mills River Update
Holiday Greetings:
Tuesday, Dec. 11, was a record breaking day in the southeast. The temperature in upstate South Carolina reached 79 degrees. It was a gorgeous day. Monday had also been a record breaker, so I hit the road early Tuesday for the North Mills River in western North Carolina.
After a quick biscuit at the local fast food joint, I rolled up highway 25, merged onto highway 26 and turned off north of Hendersonville, NC. It took me about and hour and fifteen minutes to drive it.
It took a jiffy to pull on the waders, rig the fly rod and head for the stream. I hit a few favorite pools and found the water still in the low forties even after a couple of warm days. I began to think it would be a poor day, but finally on one of my favorite pools, the fish became active. It caught a 13" brown trout on a nymph and then several rainbows. The best rainbow was 13 1/2" but in the cold water he fought well.
I caught seven fish in that pool and moved on to several more that were less profitable. It was approaching 1:00 and I had an appointment for 3:30, so I moved quickly upstream to one last favored spot.
I caught one small rainbow and moved to the tailout of the pool. A nice rainbow slashed at the fly and missed as I saw the silver glint in the depths. I made the same drift and felt him briefly on the fly, but did not hook up firmly. Surprisingly, he moved again on the third drift and I stuck him. He was a nice 12" rainbow and a nice end to a winter day.
Two nice browns and seven rainbows in a half day trip in mid-winter is a respectable trip in my book.
As I walked out, I was tired but happy for this brief respite from the cold days of mid-winter.
This kind of day is a gift. It is a jewel among the otherwise drab days of winter and sparks my appetite for the great days of spring trout fishing that I know are not that far away.
By Friday, Dec. 14, the temperature had dropped and I was on the river in a kayak in pursuit of ducks. Unfortunately, none flew close enough for me to fire the trusty 12gauge, so I whipped out the trusty camera and shot some beautiful photos of the morning fog on the swamp and the Saluda River.
There are many ways to enjoy a day and taking game and fish greatly improve it, but by no means the only requirement for a day well spent.
I hope your days in this rapidly approaching Christmas season are as enjoyable and that you and your family will have a marvelous Christmas.
May God bless you and yours.
Regards, L. Woodrow Ross
posted by Ross Outdoor Survival Skills @ 16:29
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