High Rock - 11/1

Juan's post from Monday had me Jonesin' to hit the river.  After an afternoon appointment up on Fruitland Ridge I had time to head to High Rock.  I pulled in to High Rock Bar and found the gate closed and locked...       I cracked a beer and contemplated hooking up Roleez to get where I wanted to go - 1/2 a mile or more of rocky riverbank to the launch just north of High Rock hole.  Just then I saw a rig coming up off the riverbar.  I stashed my brew behind the gate post and awaited someone who I hoped would be filling me in on how to get past the gate.  The green Toyota pulled up and the driver and I exchanged greetings.  As I looked in the back of his pickup and saw a yak, I realized I was talking to Juan!  He filled me in on the slow fishing day it'd been for him, and told me that he had the gate combo, but couldn't divulge it due to the commitment he'd made to the guide who'd given it to him.  I will be honest:  I was a bit peeved!     But I actually corrected myself, quickly, and decided that I really admire the fact that Juan stood on his word to the guide.  I could tell he wasn't pleased to have denied me, but I could see that he knows how to do the right thing.  Good show, Juan.     He locked up the gate after driving through, and I saw that he'd grabbed my empty brew - thanks for not letting me space it and forget that one, Juan!  I was very pleasantly surprised to run into fellow NCKA.  Nice to meet you, Bro.   

So Juan was on a schedule and had to take off, and I wouldn't have forgotten that beer bottle because I headed right back over to the lock and opened it up with the combo I'd heard of a year or two ago.  I wasn't testing you, Juan, just not playing all my cards since you weren't!     

I cruised down the riverbar to the north end of High Rock hole.  The wind was whipping through there, but the sun was out.  I was excited to be getting on the water.  I geared up and headed downwind into High Rock on one of my 9' boats.  Armed with a gold Little Cleo on 10# line, and knowing that Juan had said it was slow, I hoped for the late afternoon bite to kick in!     I rounded the corner and the wind died to nothing as the rock wall behind this place's name sheltered me from the northern breeze.  I drifted toward the deepest part of the hole and threw my spoon, excited about the possibilities.  As I was retrieving my lure from deep in the main hole I heard and saw a big splash over at the west side of the hole near the log in Juan's pic from Monday.  I headed in that direction and kept casting and retrieving.  As I got to the west side there was another big splash, and then a fish went airborne over by the rock island...  Over the next hour and a half I worked my Little Cleo around a few dozen more splashes, rolls, airborne jumps...etc. in those two areas.  The fish were dark - one I saw clearly out of the water was dark above the lateral line and a beautiful shade of red below it.  I didn't clearly see any fish that I thought was huge, but I know there were some big adults, and the airborne's were looking like fat little jacks of 5-7# or so.  It's hard to get these guys to bite...  I headed out as I had to get back to town before dinner time.  Would've like to have stayed until dark...  We need some rain.

 

Kool Story there

 and nice water too, must be something to have all that to yourself....

  and meeting a NCKAer in the mix

LOVE the scenery 

LOVE the scenery 

ditto that.  so gorgeous!