There's Not Much Else For Us To Talk About - - - The WB Fishing We Had Once Is Gone.

With the flow at Walton, (above Cannonsville), peaking at 4,500 cfs, the WB and BR will again be off limits to wade fishermen for the foreseeable future. So far the storms have left the east side untouched. The big bug season is over, but as long as the water temps stay under 70 degrees there is fishing on the Willow, BK,  and the BE, (at present levels, the UEB is too high to wade comfortably). Unless you are lucky enough to find the elusive Cornutas, (I haven't been), the best dry fly fishing will be in the last couple of hours of daylight. Early morning, before the sun starts to heat up the water, is a pleasant time to be on the streams and you can often find a few fish eating spinners or hatching caddis.

Jim Dygert asked about the proposed power plant on the WB. This project was in the works and test borings were done 8-10 years ago. Water gushed  up out of one of the test holes causing enough concern that the valve was opened to the maximum 1,500 cfs in an attempt to draw down the reservoir to avoid a possible flood if the dam failed. It turned out that there has been a leak under the dam since it was built, (a fault in the subsurface rocks), the water enters the river a short ways downstream. The test boring apparently hit the fault and the water surged up. The hole was subsequently plugged and I have heard nothing further about the proposed project. (It was supposedly designed to run on whatever water was being released).

Back a month ago John H. and Dennis 2 asked for tips on landing big fish in heavy water. Here's all I've got. When I hook a good fish I let him run and, if possible, I head for soft water, usually along the shore. If this is not possible I look for the nearest big boulder and get in the vee of softer water below it where it is easier to land the fish. If neither option is available it will take longer and you will be more likely to lose the fish. In fighting and landing a fish in swift current it is important to know if it is a rainbow or a brown as they behave differently.

Rainbows - Their mouth structure is more fragile and likely to tear, let them run under light pressure  and reel them back in whenever they stop running. They will make two or three good runs before tiring. When they begin to tire they will stay downstream from you and twist and turn near the surface, apply gentle pressure as many fish rip free at this stage. When they quiet down try to gently lift their head above the water. Once their head is out of the water they quit fighting and you can slide them right up to your net.

Browns - Their mouths are tougher and hooks are more likely to not rip out. You can apply more pressure and as the fish tires, (he will no longer be able to do his fighting down low in the water column), you can lead him upstream on a short line to a point directly above you, then lift him to the surface where he will begin to thrash, keep the line tight but let the current carry the thrashing fish back downstream into your net. 

Needless to say, neither method always works, but they are the best ways I know. Would welcome any other ideas on the subject.