Elk River 01/21/10

[David L. Darnell]

I got a rod in mail last week, used gift cards from Christmas for over 50% of the purchase, wanted to try it one more time, to decide to keep it or send it back.

Figured I'd go to the dam, put up with the crowd to get some time on the new stick, I was willing to park even if there was over my limit of 2 or 3 cars in the lot.

I pulled up and the lot was empty, water coming out of Murell Cr was dark stained but not mud. Figured that might be what turned off all the potential visitors from making the trip. The rain last night.

I left home with my fishing attire on, so I was going to fish, heck why not, having the river at the Hwy 50 bridge all to yourself. Walked in on the downside of the bridge and started working a "junebug" as my coworkers kid me about my choice of fishing gear. Worked slow and covered the water all the way to the turn hole.

Beautiful, on and off sun, tee shirt under a Columbia Bonehead long sleeve shirt and I got warm. No a soul stirring but me and two Great Blue Herons that I got within casting distance, they weren't impressed with the fishing either. Well, I only moved two fish, river was VOID of any rise forms, no midge activity on or off the water, never a shuck floated by, not a bug on the water or in the air.

I wouldn't waste the gas until the powers that be, feel like putting some stockers in, if and when I go again  I will go a few miles downstream, walk a good distance to the river, but when I get there I won't see any sticks stuck in the ground to hold bait rods, corn and worm containers everywhere with a Mepps or Rooster Tail package left on the ground.

What the Elk needs is a Federal Hatchery across the creek towards the dam from the parking lot. That way it might get some fish put in it on a regular basis.

Oh, I removed the plastic on the cork while I was on the water (plastic, came out and went in the trash) The rod is the latest in my quiver.

[Steve H]

David, good to chat last night and sounds like a good day out.

Glad you could wet a line and test some new gear.

[tonkincane4me]

Years ago there was a hatchery there. Not Federal though. The main highway from Fayetteville to Winchester had a hatchery on the north side not far from the Kelso, TN turn off. We stopped and visited the trout in those cement containers in the late 70's to mid 80's. It may still be there?

[Rusty]

It's still there but I was told it was being converted to a warm water hatchery.  We float down to or sometimes from Shiloh Bridge and pass it coming off of Hwy 64.  Sure wish they could use it to give us some larger fish on the Elk.  I was at the dam a few years ago when the hatchery truck make a surprise delivery and they were from Dale Hollow. 

[David L. Darnell]

First I've heard of making the Flintville hatchery warmwater, where are they going to get the warmwater ? Little to none of the fish there make it to the Elk, it's main use is the winter stocking program for TWRA.

[Rusty]

Do you ever fish the lower part of the Elk for smallmouth?  I've been down to Dickey Bridge but never any further and am interested in floating a different part of the river if it's worthwhile.

[David L. Darnell]

I live just upstream of Dickey Bridge, I have never in 10 years of living here caught a fish around me on a flyrod, a few Redeye in the spring on hardware, hoping with the river warming up by US Fish/TVA upstream will help me, I consider this a transitional dead zone.

Last bass I saw caught was on a float behind Walmart in Fayetteville.

[Rusty]

I made two trips last year from Shiloh to Dickey bridge and we had decent luck both times but I agree with you on the water around Dickey bridge.  There's not much there but try some popping bugs with a dropper, the redeye and bream are suckers for them.   We made one float from Ferris Creek to Shiloh and camped at Old Dam.  About 1AM, there was 2 vehicles full of chemically enhanced dipsticks that almost drove over our tents.

[adamtn]

My brother floats a lower section of the elk down around Harms quite a bit during the summer. He says there are some decent smallies down there. He is too lazy to fly fish for them but does well on spin tackle.

[tonkincane4me]

David:

Try a sinking tip line or get that fly way down this time of year with lead.

The winter was cold as hell. Those trout are lethargic. Think where you'd be like under protection, away from the fast current, and; look for a drop off where a trout can sit low while water flows over it carrying food.

All BS aside. Either go deep and heavy with lead like western WY nymping in late May or put a dinner out there to make the energy expanded worth the effort. Try a sinking tip on that line or add something like "shape a wate."