November again and we return to the East Fork of the French Broad River close to Rosman, North Carolina for a scheduled fly fishing session with the MBTU chapter this past Saturday. The Delayed Harvest started in October on the East Fork, so it seemed like a good time to visit. It was kind of a toss-up whether or not actually to go because of Friday’s rain. Wes and I decided to hook up and do it anyway, which turned out to be a good thing. The water was decently up and clear; the trout were in the feeding lane and in the feeding mood. Not going crazy, but choosing their battles.

East Fork brookie

I thought it might be another “everybody else caught some, except for Mark” day, but I managed to fool a small hatchery-released brown first, and a little later a decent brookie tried to eat the same streamer pattern. Right after that, another actually tore the streamer right off the end of the leader with a more than solid hit. It almost felt vicious if it hadn’t also felt good. Left me with one more, which didn’t seem to possess the same allure as the first. Note: get back on the tying vise… replenish, replenish, replenish.

We took a break before going back to fishing, but the rest of the afternoon didn’t produce any more cooperation. The weather started doing switchbacks also, and then began turning colder and uncomfortable. We packed it in, considering it a pretty good day all in all.

Sunday. Rhee and I went back, mostly for a ride through the mountains’ fall color, but I wanted to check the last pool from Saturday. Had to wait out a couple of guys, so I fished above them with no luck. Hooked up with a tree trout, normally a cause for unkind thoughts. Retrieving my fly, I also recovered another fly. Dropping down to the pool below, I had no luck with my offering so, just for giggles I tied on the fly from the tree. Seemed to be the ticket, or at least 5 brownies and 1 brookie thought so. They were all small with the brook trout being larger, but they hit authoritatively. Then they wised up and developed lockjaw. Strangely enough, as I waded back trying yet another last cast after last cast, I ended up with another “tree trout” hook-up, which resulted in picking 3 more flies from the same branch. I didn’t try any of these, figuring to save them for later not because I didn’t want to tempt fate, but because I was getting cold again.

Decided to wrap it up and spend the rest of the time with my patient wife. This one may require further research… .