Floated from the dam to Farris Creek yesterday. I was excited to go as this was the first time on the Elk in about a year. Lots and lots of grass...more than I can ever remember. Watercress farms? I also saw they are adding another watercress farm at the bridge take out. They have already started pumping water into the fields. While I caught some nice fish, including a really nice brown that taped at just over 22" I couldn't help but wonder if eventually this river is gonna be choked up with all this grass? Didn't see any bugs in these weeds as I had hoped so that concerned me as well? Do these farms pay any water rights? Do they have a water quality program they must follow? I could be wrong in thinking that the water going back in from these farms is causing the weeds and grass to really take off but I can't recall the river having this much aquatic weed life. I grew up in Winchester and caught my first trout on the Elk, one of my best friends taught me to fly fish on this river so I have a soft spot for this place. All the fish I caught looked really healthy and fought great so maybe it is not as bad as I think. I am sure other fisherman share some of my concerns.
