I knew the forcast called for rain but it was the same forcast on Friday and the evening though overcast was nice. My son and I decided to head to Chattooga (north west SC) to Fish Sat. camp and fish Sunday.
the water was up about 6 inches and medium cloudy but with a foot or more of visibility. We setup camp and proceeded to fish. It rained hard on us in short bursts a couple of time through Sat. afternoon but we fished through it. As evening came on, we watched one of the thickest mayfly (size 24 - 26) hatches yet. they were coming off pools along the shore by the thousands. the air was thick with them and the edges of the water had hundreds of mayfly bodies along the shore. It only lasted about 20 minutes and started to die off but then the cadis hatch came and went...not much of one but it happened. Just as we stopped for the evening (not a bite on top but got a couple bows with #18 BH hare's ears) we saw a new hatch I haven't seen. Mayflies in about size 14 - 16. looked like a BWO maybe...
in any case, we fixed dinner and sat by the fire drying our fishing hats and hit the hay around 9:30. the sky opened just as I was thinking of better fishing in the morning...and about midnight I new we were in for a long night but the rain was so heavy that we were stuck. the van parked at Burrells ford parking lot is 350 yards away up a very steep hill. It was all VERY loud with all the rain and then I could hear the river around 3am and started to worry. our camp site is about 7 feet above the normal water level and about 100 feet from the river. about 6:30 it was getting light enough to see but still pouring, we were soaked and water was standing an inch on the ground. as it got lighter I spotted the river and it shifted me into gear. 40 minutes later we were in the van...saved by luck and my choice of a site up and away from the river.
From the site I chose, you can't usually see the river. The river had risen at least 4 maybe 5 feet. the trail along the river and all the river edge camp sites were under a foot of churning water. large trees were going by down the river doing at least 35mph. where normaly pools were, there were two foot rollers.
in John Gierach's book "Death, Taxes, and leaky Waders" he talks about streams flooding and once the flood is gone having the same fish still behind that big rock by the fallen tree and fishing being generally the same. Its puts us (fisherman) off of course but...as long as I learn to leave when the water is as cloudy as it was, heed better the warnings of the weatherman...we will live to fish another day.
this low pressure hasn't moved at all and the rain keeps coming.......... this helps the Lakes but hurts the tailwaters.....! No fishing here for at least 2 weeks pending on the Gulf mositure! Tight Lines!
