DUKES 12/11

[S.Trutta]

Got to fish Dukes again and it didn't dissapoint. The weather was very cold in the morning, and the water temps never climbed out of the upper 30's. The fishing has definetely slowed down some from the past few months, but its still very good and all the fish seem to be big and strong. I landed 14 for the day, but unfortunately 5-6 of those fish were foul hooked. The past 2 weeks there I have seemed to have foul hooked alot more fish than just the odd one here or there. I hate foul hooking fish, and was getting pretty frustrated with the continuous tail or dorsal fin hookups. Did land 9 in the mouth though, and some beauties at that. I caught 2 fish that taped exactly at 24.5 inches, a 21 3/4, and several 17-19 inch fish. All rainbows with beautiful colors and all the males have a nice hooked jaw. No one fly was the ticket today, caught them on a variety of things throughout the day. Took a few nice photos I thought I would share....

The big 24.5 incher, this picture does it no justice!!!!
http://tinypic.com/igjned.jpg

21 plus bow that i sight fished for in skinny water!!!
http://tinypic.com/igk96a.jpg

First fish of the day, not too shabby!
http://tinypic.com/igk9dk.jpg

Tight Lines
Rich

[spinboy]

I'll be up there the 21st to try and duplicate that. Anybody have a particular recommendation for finding a brown at Duke's?? I have yet to land a bigger one there.

[Gillseeker]

I have never caught a brown in sections 1 or 2. Why? I have no clue. I have had better luck with the browns below the covered bridge. I have also had good luck near the feeding area in section 3. I guess the browns hang there because the water is deeper. Last Easter I caught a 30" brown that weighed in at 5+ lbs just upstream from where the road crosses the creek. Right after I landed thet fish I hooked into another big fish that I was never able to get to the surface so I have no idea what it was but would have to guess that it was a brown. The water was up over my waist and I am 6'-6" tall. I was there a few weeks ago and had the van drop me off at that same spot and the water was MAYBE 2 ft deep in the same spot. Not even one bite there. Go figure. Good luck on the 21st. I'll be there Christmas Eve so save some of the big ones for me and Jr.

Dan

[S.Trutta]

I too have never caught a big brown in Dukes, and most trips out I dont catch any browns at all. There are several things I think that play into this. first of all, browns are the hardest and most wary to catch, so that makes them a little harder right off the bat. Secondly, sections 3 and 4 have more slower deeper water with not as much current, something much more to the liking of big browns. Lastly, i believe fly selection is important. I personally have the best luck with tiny flies in dukes, and especially in the winter i seem to fish an #18 with a #20 dropper, and hook more fish like this than any other setup. Although this may be the best way to hook lots of fish and take some pretty rainbows, a big brown usually isnt too interested in tiny morsels. if i were setting out with the goal of taking a trophy brown from dukes, I wouldnt worry about numbers of fish. I would fish the deeper slower runs in sections 3 and 4 with a BIG streamer or wooly bugger with no less than 3X tippet. You will catch far fewer fish, maybe only a few hookups all day, but you have a chance at a monster brown. One day in May i was in section 3 hammering the fish on a small pheasant tail with a midge dropper. I met up with an older man who was fishing with a giant brown sculpin, probably a seize 6, who said he caught one decent bow all day and no other hits. Just as i started to continue upstream I heard a hoot and hollar, and sure enough the old guy had hooked a huge brown. After 10 minutes of fighting i netted the fish for him, a huge hook jawed 25.5 inch brown. Ive never tried that technique, but if your goal is to take a big brown from dukes, thats your best bet.

Rich

[spinboy]

I've seen live ones and fished with them out in Arkansas....is that what you're talking about. I big fly that looks like one of this little ugly dead fish???

[S.Trutta]

Thats it. The most popular pattern is by Dave Whitlock who is a tyer for Umpqua, i know they carry that pattern. Anything big and meaty is good for getting the attention of big browns. Also big stoneflies, wooly buggers, clousers, crayfish, helgrammite, etc. Again, not gonna hook 20 fish in a day, but you might hook into a haymaker brown (or rainbow) or two.

Rich

[Gillseeker]

I landed a very nice brown on a black beadhead bugger but this one was different. Instead of having a bead by the eyehook, it had like an eye on each side of the eyehook. Someone called it a beadhead salamander or something like that but it was a while ago so I forget. But to make a long story short, it was raining and the browns were tearing them up. My brother-in-law hooked a nice big brown accross the street on section 1 with a black beadhead bugger. I just have not had any luck above the bridge with the browns.

Dan

Spin...We need to hook up one day up there, bring your wife and the Fantasy Goddess and her can shop while the men fish!! ;)

[MossyOak]

So when ya gonna invite me ??

[S.Trutta]

Anytime your free just let me know, id love to have someone to fish with. have you ever fished Dukes before? Definetely an exciting place to be if you know what your doing and have good fly selection. There is usually a month waiting time to get a spot on the creek, so let me know when i good for you and I can get us on the books.

Rich

[MossyOak]

How much does it cost to fish there?
so no I have never fished at dukes..
Have you ever fished the Cartecay? anytime you wanna, I live here on the cartecay.

[Trout8myfly]

Fishing at Dukes costs only the $2 or $3 parking pass. But you do need a reservation.

Call the good folks at Smithgall Woods to hold a morning or afternoon spot (or both as the case may be.) And it's always good to check for cancellations during the week.

Here's some contact information:

http://www.smithgallwoods.com/net/content/item.aspx?s=5853.0.15.5646

[MossyOak]

Thx for the info

[Gillseeker]

I'll be at Smithgall Woods on Christmas Eve fishing. Call to see if there were any cancellations and joins us.

Dan

[spinboy]

That sounds good. Your 7.5 kids would be excellent birth control for my young wife who thinks her bio clock is about to stroke midnight.

[Gillseeker]

That's what we said about the 4th one. I'm lucky to get any action at all at this point. Wife keeps saying somthin' about a home based vasectomy. And she keeps talking about this guy named Eunuch, whoever that is. Sounds alot like me, though.

[spinboy]

I like that reaction Dad. It made me laugh too. :D

[MossyOak]

You two are a hoot !
have me rollin around chuckling, reading out to my wife what you two are saying and she just rolls her eyes.....women, why can't they understand the male language ?
I'll check on the lodge for openings....and let you know

[S.Trutta]

As the guys said, Dukes Creek is free other than the $2 or $3 for parking. If you fish up in that neck of the woods alot (chattahooche, smiths, dukes, etc.) it may make sense to buy the annual pass for $25. That sounds like a great sawpping of info/water, ill show you around dukes and you can show me the cartecay...ive never fished it before but have driven past it and always think it looks beautiful. Let me know.

Rich

[MossyOak]

Dude, I am at the moment checking out your web site, you have some awesome fish pics..
I'd embarass the heck out of you, you being the pro and me the amature..
But you can come here and fish anytime you want too.
Just let me know when
Garrett

[MossyOak]

The picture of the Fall Landscape ( the small bridge over the creek )
That looks like my place, I have 2 islands on my property and the cartecay splits to the left of them making my very own private river.
I have over 400 ft of river front & not to mention up or down stream .
So, you, Dad of 7.5 & Spinboy can come to my private river anytime ;)
Here is my address, look it up on Google map:
571 Riverwood Rd, ellijay, GA. 30536, ph# 706-636-5966 hm
I work from home so am here all the time, ..
Garrett

[Gillseeker]

I appreciate the offer. I'd love to.

[S.Trutta]

Thanks for the offer. I won't be able to take you up on it until sometime after the holidays, but ill give you a ring in a month or too. Thanks again and let me know when you want to chase some big boys on dukes.

Rich

[Loopdawg]

Hello Dad O 7, Spin, S. Trutta, Mossy -

(This is my first entry) The most fun I had on Dukes creek was a day back in July when I only caught 2 fish. I was using a #6 Olive bugger on Section 3, and caught the biggest rainbow of my life, a very brightly colored 24 incher. I could have left after catching that one fish because it was so much fun. Then, on the other hand, I had an afternoon where I caught several 8 to 10 inch fish on an EHC in Section 2. I guess that's what makes Duke's so amazing. You can fish for whatever you're in the mood for and always have a good time. Even when I've gone up in the heat of summer to fish Dukes and the fish aren't bitting I always have a good time because it's such a beautiful place.

tight lines

[Gillseeker]

Hey guys...what I really mean to say is that Dukes is a horrible place to fish...yeah yeah...that's the ticket. Don't ever fish up there...lots of bears and rattlers and copperheads. Very dangerous place to be. No way to get out if you get snakebit. Never, ever fish at Smithgall Woods.


Dan

[S.Trutta]

On a good day at dukes you can get quantity and quality!! I agree though, Dukes has something for everyone. Somedays it seems like taking candy from a baby, hooking big fish all day long like a stocked stream. other times it is extremely technical and can leave you shaking your head. This past week for me was the most technical it has been in the past few months. Fish were picky, and it took many many casts through prime water to get a strike. The cold water makes the fish less willing to move very far to grab a nymph or midge, so i had success fishing slow and methodically through the runs I knew held fish. just when you thought it was time to move on, a fish would grab it and the fight was on. In my opinion, Dukes creek is as good as it gets in the southeast, and would rival streams nation wide.

Rich

[Gillseeker]

I joke about how horrible it is because 3 years ago I could go once a week. Now sometimes it's 3 months between trips because they are booked solid. I have been lucky lately and have been about once a month but it's just showing up and hoping someone doesn't show. I have gone up there and it seemed like very cast was an 18" or bigger fish. Then two weeks later I go up there and I catch 1 fish...but it's a 5lb bow with the most beautiful colors you've ever seen! Beats me, I'm just a dumb ol' country boy but this ol' boy loves to fish up there. See y'all there Christmas Eve and again on Jan 8th.

[skibum]

Thanks again for the slot on the 24th. This will be the first time there during winter hours. What are the times the van heads down river? Gotta keep an eye on the time cause I hear Santa's hang'n at my place that night. After that he's gotta visit like 350 homes a second... :)

[Gillseeker]

Van heads out at 8 but you have a choice. You can go on down stream or if time is a factor you can fish section 1. It starts out in front of the check in station and then goes across the road up to the lodge. There are lots of fish and some big ones, too in section 1. After you fish it you can start back down the road and hop in your car and go. The shuttle will go back down stream at 12:30 and again at 4:30 but if you miss it it is one helluva hike back to the parking lot. With waders and equipment it seems like about 10 miles uphill and it is steep. Then it's about a half mile downhill and it's steep as well. I've done it many times but I have also been so tired I've laid out in the middle of the road to rest. The fish in section 1 are very picky and it is not uncommon to see several large trout but it takes a lot of skill and patience to land one. They are kind of like Waters Creek monsters...seen it all and will wait for the trout chow from the rangers. The thing about Dukes is the beauty of the stream. I'd fish it all day, not catch a fish and still be happy. Well, mostly happy :p

Dan

[skibum]

Ya i've walked back from the covered bridge and it's a hike!! I'll prob head down with the van, then catch a ride back and spend some time up on sect.1 till it's time to head home.. Just wanted to make sure on the times so I can let her know.. I'm sure i'll see ya'll in the parking lot in the morning. Grey 4runner with TU tags..

[spinboy]

You scared me Skibum, I thought that was "UT tags" at first glance. I thought I was going to have to mention the four letter word that you can't spell without UT.

Seriously though, this has been my first year fishing on Duke's and WOW! I am very much a novice fly-fisherman but have caught some great fish.

When I feel I am getting skunked, I head back to the truck for the spinning gear. Never fails...thanks to your tip about the BPS worms from several weeks back of course.

My one issue is my inability to locate browns. Thanks to some other NGTO'ers for a tip on some big flies....I hope to try them soon.