June 2005 - Day 6

Time: 5:00pm - 1:00am (Indiana Time)
Type: Brown
Lengths: 11"
Amount: 1
Setup: St. Croix Legend Ultra 8.5ft / 5wt
Fly: Robert's Yellow Drake #12
Brown Drake #12
Location: South Branch Au Sable
Weather: Hot and Once again STORMY

Comments: We went back to Upper High Banks. We got there early so we could explore and see what other holes were around. We found what looked to be a fantastic stretch and settled in for the night. The Drake hatch was VERY light. We had a massive Sulphur spinner fall and a few Golden Stones on the water. Fishing was very slow.

Before I tell you what else happened, I need to point out the fact that my friend Mike caught his first 10" plus brown! He not only caught it, but he did it in the dark!

That's where the fun stopped and the Hillbillies started. About two hours after we had settled on the spot to fish, a group of "fishermen" showed up with beer and women. The guys told us that we were in "their spot". I explained that we had been in the spot waiting for the evening hatch, and we intended to stay in that spot. We did, but they did their best to ruin a good night. All through the day light hours cigarette butts and other garbage floated past us. Once darkness hit, they began to sneak through the woods in an attempt to scare us. We've been in the woods for too many years (almost 40 now) to let a bunch of billies scare us. All in all, they did what they hoped to do and that was ruin a good night. Fortunately I was at the head of our group, and I was the one dealing with them. My sons and my friend didn't have to deal with them. Just something to think about when you are on the water and meet someone else. Be kind and let them have the spot if they are there first.