Mitchell....tough or just me?

flyer57 · #1 12-08-2007, 03:06 PM

Went out to the Mitchell last Tuesday with my friend Pat. We were pretty pumped from a great outing a few weeks prior at Stone and were ready to turn onto the Elkin bypass off 77 when I suggested Mitchell. Wish I said Stone. The weather was perfect, a bit overcast, nippy when the sun was down but a great day, no excuses. I remember last December, almost a year to the day that we took the long drive out of Raleigh to hit the Mitchell with my neighbor that is by no means a newbie to the sport, he has fished the Battenkill, Delaware with regularity and we all know these are blue ribbon streams/rivers. Like last year, we spent the whole day with zip, zero nada, not even a look. I am beginning to doubt the numbers of stockers there period. One gentleman that was there said they did not stock nearly the numbers this year due to the drought. Speaking of that, the river was WAY, WAY LOW! There were a few at best riffles the rest is really dead water in my estimation. After thinking the reason(s) for the skunk, I came up with these conclusions:

1. Mitchell may have fish this time of year, but after VERY STEALTHY recon prior to, I did not see any fish, single or in pods. Of course they will be concealed near the rocks and as the Mitchell goes, along the banks and hunkered under the overgrowth, etc.

2. Pressure of course is incredibly high, we thew everything at them and used 7X with minimum false casts, etc.

My feeling is that unless you are successful at getting the drift or the dry right on, right there along the bank or undercut, your chances are zip. Not to sound too pessimistic however. I have had great success on the Mitchell of course right around stocking time. Since I am still a novice at best, any suggestions or ideas greatly appreciated. Regarding that day, I can report there were only two other fisherman on the entire river.

Thanks!

Sleepytrout · #2 12-08-2007, 05:04 PM

My bet is it's probably fished out.

Glad you had a good time though.

FFNC · #3 12-08-2007, 05:07 PM

That stream gets poached hard

If you stomp through the waters and don't even spook a fish...then you will know.

rivergeezer · #4 12-08-2007, 06:49 PM

[quote=FFNC;202254]That stream gets poached hard

quote]

Yep, the price we pay for easy access and little law enforcement. Sad, really, because I've enjoyed fishing the Mitchell often.

Robspe7370 · #5 12-09-2007, 01:19 AM

I think you may have been fishing the wrong section...I was there today and the first hole I stopped at had at least a dozen trout in that single pool.I didnt fish because I was going for a hike in Stone Mountain but there are definaely still fish in there....

flyer57 · #6 12-09-2007, 10:41 AM

Thanks Robspe. I started at the Baptismal Pool and worked my way up and down from that point. Most of the water was too shallow to do much. Usually when I hit a riffle in the past, a good prince nymph, copper john something like that kinda' high sticking would produce a nice rainbow. This trip nada. Regardless the scenary was superb and I have to agree on the potential for poaching on the Mitchell, I have been there several times and never seen Wildlife enforcement. At Stone, I will get requested for license ver, etc. from wardens and interesting, a whole lot more stockers still there these days!

adamsdadd · #7 12-09-2007, 09:27 PM

Had a decent day there friday, caught 10 and missed/ lost half that many in about 3 hours fishing. Sorry you had a bad day. Some days you cant buy a strike. Happens to the best of us.

savage17 · #8 12-10-2007, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robspe7370

I think you may have been fishing the wrong section...I was there today and the first hole I stopped at had at least a dozen trout in that single pool.I didnt fish because I was going for a hike in Stone Mountain but there are definaely still fish in there....

My bad. We should have stayed there and fished that pool. we might have done better.

flyer57 · #9 12-10-2007, 09:34 AM

Interesting Adamsdad. If I may sounds like you had a good day considering, my luck on the Mitchell has been typically not good this time of year, same as last. You mentioned 10 and several misses, may I ask where you were fishing, droppers, dries?
Thanks.

BugSlinger · #10 12-11-2007, 02:35 PM

The Mitchell has changed quite a bit in just 4-5 years or so. Used to be hardly anyone (fly fishers, spin fishers, or poachers) knew about it, now all three groups pound it unmercifully. Those fish either get educated or harvested quite quickly. The low water / drought was kinda the wild card this year as well, if the water isn't flowing through there, the oxygen content will be way down.