North Branch Potomac - 9/30 - 10/1

[Slackdaddy]

Did an overnight with my son chasing smallies in the Trough section of the South Branch, Sat-Sun.
The smallies were as close to non existent as you can get.
Typically in these WV and VA mountain rivers,, the Smallies "disappear" around late Oct. I have NEVER experienced the "mythical fall bite"

Water was 1.5 on the gauge,, low normal and clear.
Sat fished from 8:30AM until dark, covering about 7 miles,, 4 smallies,, 3 in the 10" range and one 16" surprise at dark.
Set up camp in the trough and slept in,, got back on the river around 9AM and I caught ZERO smallies on Sunday,, paddled out the last 2 miles as we were both frustrated.

10 years ago this was a 50 smallies a day section up into Oct,, not sure what has happened.

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[nhunter344]

How was the hammock camping? I've always wanted to give it a try but feared my back wouldn't appreciate it.

[Slackdaddy]

How was the hammock camping? I've always wanted to give it a try but feared my back wouldn't appreciate it.

We have hammock camped for 15 years,, I have not slept on the ground since the 1st night in a hammock.
You lay on a diagonal,, almost perfectly flat. I sleep on my side, my back. It is the most comfortable sleep I have had.
We use quality asym hammocks from US cottage industry makers : Warbonnet, Dream Hammock, and Dutch Gear.
A decent "underquilt" is a must once night temps get below ~65
We can set up over rocky terrain, in fact I seek the rocky areas out,, no grass means no ticks and chiggers.


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[Slackdaddy]

Also a correction,, it was the SOUTH Branch