Getting my feet (and ass) wet again... Wilson Creek report 3/9/10.

I was finally able to get away from home this week and hit the water in search of some fish.  With the weeks of soggy weather it has been hard to find a dry moment.  All of my previous attempts to go fishing were thwarted by snow so the promise of a day with near 70 degree temperatures was more than I could resist.  It was time to pack up and head out!

I decided to hit the Delayed Harvest section of Wilson Creek near Morganton, NC.  I had fished this area once last year and it was very productive, even for a dumb ass like myself.  We arrived in the area around 8am and were quickly decked out and on the water in no time.  There was a chill in the air and the water was frigid but I was determined to make a go of it even if it killed me trying.  I did not take any measurements while I was out there but I estimated the water temp at "cold enough to make your legs numb in 30 seconds".  All we had to do was tough it out and it would get warmer later on.  Makes me really wish that I had invested in some better pants for layering.

Luckily the NCWRC did it's part and stocked the hell out of the river the week before we arrived.  In no time we were on the fish catching a lot of smaller sized brook and rainbow trout.  Initially I was fishing a "Fly Formerly Known as Prince" on a standard nymph set up.  As the morning progressed I switched to using a Stimulator as an indicator and changing various nymphs off the dropper.  Olive colored nymphs seemed to work the best.  I probably caught ten to fifteen fish before noon which was VERY good for me. 

We were having a ball but decided to get out and eat some lunch.  I guess I had a momentary lapse of concentration or just plain ol' "weren't paying attention to where my big ass feet were going".   I quickly managed to get my foot stuck between two rocks.  I learned in Physics that Newton's First Law of Motion states that "An object that is in motion will not change its velocity until an unbalanced force acts upon it."  How this applies to the real world, and yours truly, is when you get my big ass falling off balance it ain't stopping for crap!  I took a nice backwards plunge into the frigid water and ended up on my back flailing in the water trying to right myself like a wounded tortoise. 

For those not familiar with mammalian physiology, there is a reflex where you uncontrollably gasp when exposed to cold water. This usually facilitates drowning by allowing copious amounts of water to be inhaled.  It was a surreal experience to uncontrollably gasp like that knowing that if I had fallen face down I would be sucking my last breath.   I was wearing a fleecy jacket that day under my waders and it managed to soak up enough water that I had difficulty getting my arms above the surface.  Luckily I had the drawstring on my wader top drawn tight with the wader belt in place so I only got a small stream of ice cold water down the my butt crack.  Needless to say, I have a healthy respect for cold water and realize that you can drown in a foot or less of it if you do it right.  Next time I am packing two shirts! 

Later I started to think about what might have happened if I stepped into a blind pool and sunk over the top of my waders.  Inevitably, the waders would fill up and drag me down like a fat rock.  No hope of getting them off with laced boots keeping the waders on.  I am always taking a wading staff from now on!

After my customary Beanie  Weenie lunch I dried out and changed into my spare clothes.  We headed up to the end of the Delayed Harvest section where the last bridge crosses the river.  We stood on the span and looked at the deep pool below that was full of fish with some real brutes in there.  We figured there was  no chance of catching any since this area seemed to be high pressure so we walked back down stream and fished a less populated spot.  I decided to swing a new Slumpbuster that I tied in a deep pool and was rewarded with a nice brook trout!  It was cool to know that I tied the fly that caught the fish.  We fished until the light began to fade then decided that we had done enough damage and packed up for the trip home.  Total I think I caught 30 fish in all.  Not a shabby day!  I was tired as Hell and my feet were sore from walking on the rocks but it was all worth it.  I got my due the next day as I lay on the bathroom floor puking my guts up.  Evidently Beanie Weenies and McDonald's are suspect in the Morganton area.  Still was a great day fishing!