CHESS IN THE RIVER

                                             
                                                                                       
                                                                      

                                                                          
                                   And their it was. An hour later, down 71 I had reached

my favorite stream. The anticipation of the drive can be a little overwhelming. But it's a very familiar one with a lot of good memories. I have plenty of time on this drive to map out every move I will be making. Which color of that pattern, in this water. If the water temp. drops 2 more degrees, ill use this. If the sun goes away for more than a half hour, the hatch is this!                                                                                                                                                                  
                                                                                          
The suspect I was paying a visit to has become an old foe. He doesn't give his secrets up very well. And he has shattered my hopes and dreams on more than one occasion. 
      Like a Boxer he knows his strengths and weaknesses. He precisely jukes, weaves and goes back to his stance. Or in this case his "zone".  To beat the best, you have to be the best they say. Some occasions your lucky and you have a good day. But you are in his environment. What we can't see is what reels me in. What could I do in every or any given circumstance. What you can't see  below the cool stream surface and your instincts against his is the name of the game. I like to call it "River Chess." It sounds insane and lame. Really, I don't care what others think. I do what I feel is the right move on the water. My own little world. And during this time, my time, is all that matters. I feel this holds true to almost every fly fisherman. And that's why we keep coming back. Every circumstance is different at any given time.                                                                                                                               

                                                                      

        The Clear Fork Brown Trout is a mystery to many. Their have been fish less trips. 6 to 8 hours worth at a time. The Brown being a bastard as we know at times can be as crotchety and grumpy as an old man. Finicky as a scorned ex wife and intelligent as an honor student. This is why I prefer to fish the Brown over any game fish in existence.  The Clear Fork Brown especially. They have been stocked since 1996 by ODNR. Prior to that was the same method{almost} as the apple creek route. Clubs new it could work, and ODNR dragged their feet for years as usual. Rainbows were the bill of fare prior with some Brownies, but predominately 'bows back then. I believe it it were still Rainbows being stocked now in numbers by the State, they would reproduce. Easily. The problem I believe and this is only my theory would be the fact that Rainbows are way to eager to lunge with reckless abandonment thus, dissipate. Not much in the way of "Chess" for the rainbow. It would be their demise. The habitat is of mostly cobble for a bottom, with very little shale. The tailouts are of spring creek pebble and the rifles are of the same sized pea-gravel. Pools are of 3-7 feet in the upper Clear Fork,deeper in the lower section. As far as holdover Browns, which are of way less tolerant than the popular McCloud strain of Rainbow that we see in resident dwelling 'bows the numbers are good. The state stocks 6"-9"

 fingerling's every October. They are at various points through out the stream. Catching them, is of another order.
  As time and methods have past new ideas erupt. but the result is always similar on this stream. Typically, bigger streamers are the method of choice for most Bruiser Browns. Here, theirs no pattern. It's random for no reason. And with a gin clear stream, stealth is all you have.  The hardy Brown is not forgiving here. At times one would wonder if the heat of summer have killed off the fish. But the Clear Fork has a few suprises and tricks of it's own. And the sizable Browns if you can find them to prove it. Under ground cold springs that shoot out gallons of cold, sterile water keep this river cool in most locations year round. in certain sections their are more springs than others and in that warmer water if you find those springs you will find the Brown.   

  

      Their are many spring creeks as well that filter in the Clear Fork. None of which are of any real size. One notable, the rest the size of a sidewalk. But that's up to you to do the leg work. Most of this stream stays cool regardless of the springs. It's almost sterile . In fact until agriculture became big with fertilizers, the stream was so clean it was almost dormit of aquatic insects. And the Browns in this stream have a buffet of choice thanks to that.

                                                                                                           

This stream hides it's treasures very well unlike some places as pictured above. Although these Rainbows pictured are native, this particular stream was like fishing in a barrel. Which would u prefer?  It's funny fishing somewhere where you know people don't fish much because they gave up. Theirs a lot of lazy people out their and it seems like convenience is the normal anymore. which to me explains a lot of this countries problems. 
  The Clear Fork Brown has schooled me.  It taught me a lot. Patience turned into thinking clearer .From their it taught me how to manage every day problems that I can't control.