With Spring Come the Crowds

[Loren]

Like a lot of flyfishermen, I like the solitude of flyfishing. I guess that's why I've enjoyed fishing this winter so much. It's been great, but Spring's a comin. I didn't take up this sport until this summer, so tell me O wise ones, just how crowed is it (at Jones Bridge, for example)? I imagine it's mostly just a weekend problem -- or is it?

Loren

[Drifter]

Loren,

If you want solitude.....get yourself a small boat or canoe. You'll still see afew folks, but you can get to spots that have very little if any pressure. A motor is not exactly a necessity. I've seen alot of people paddling upriver from Jones, Medlock, and Abbotts Bridges.

Your right about JB being crowded. The inaugural trip for the driftboat was Medlock to Jones Bridge. I was suprised when I rounded the bend and saw about a dozen fisherman in the shoal area. There were some folks with Labrador Retrievers playing in the water also. Not exactly my kind of flyfishing. But the fish are always cooperative in that stretch. I felt awkward when I drifted through, and I hope all the fishermen understood that this was the only route to my take-out point. I didn't linger in the area.

If you can't swing a boat, a float tube would probably the be the next best thing.

The Drifter

[Richard]

Loren,

You guess correctly! Don't even go near there on the weekends once the weather begins to warm. Not only do you have to contend with dozens of fishermen, but also rafts and canoes, a sunbather on every rock and dogs playing in the water you always want to fish. If you can get away from the shoals it's okay, but you need a float tube to fish the area below the island. Also late evenings aren't too unbearable. Weekdays aren't too bad though until quitting time and the 9-5 crowd starts arriving.

Winter fishing is so much nicer, isn't it?

[Speck]

Nice to know you guys have so much trouble in the big 'ole city. In two of the past three opening days, plus one Memorial Day, I've run across a grand total of two other fishermen.

Keep castin'

Speck

[Loren]

Hey Speck

Can't understand why you didn't mention where you fish. Must be 20 of us sitting on the edge of our chairs waiting to hear.

Loren

[River rat]

Loren,
Head for the mountains and remember, most corn chunkers do not walk far from the parking lot or bridges.


p.s. No offense to the corn chunkers, I started out as one.