The Collection

From the left....
Fenwick HMG 9' 9wt 2pct w/ fighting butt and SA System II 8/9
Orvis Battenkill 8' 6wt 2/1 bamboo and no reel yet...
G. Loomis GL3 9' 8wt 4pcs and Orvis Mach IV
St. Croix Imperial IFT804, 8' 4wt 4pcs and SA System I 456
Wright and McGill MBPR 7'6" 7wt 4pcs
Orvis Superfine 602-4, 6' 2wt 4pcs 1oz
March Brown Executive 7wt and Ross Rhythm 3
Orvis Frequent Flyer 905-7, 9' 5wt 7pcs and Orvis Clearwater Classic II
Beauer Bamboo 9'
Shakespeer Springbrook No.1362, 9' Bass Weight

Spring 1970 Orvis Catalog

I just found a beautiful Orvis Battenkill Bamboo 8' 6wt  2/1 #58117 hand crafted by Ron White 23 February 1970. The rod is in very good condition and included the original tube w/ all markings and description still legible on the blue, silver and gold foil label. I just need to find an orphaned grey cloth sack to complete the set.

Orvis Superfine 602-4

I just purchased this new eastern brook rod on ebay for a great price. Coincidentally Orvis recently discontinued the Superfine line and is selling the remaining inventory at closeout prices. I'm now searching for the perfect reel to match. In days past a CFO or BSS would complement nicely but since they are both being manufactured in China, I'll look elsewhere.

Little Cove Creek

Weather:


Location: 37.702973,-79.210052

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For my first excursion into GWNF in search of Brook Trout I fished Little Cove Creek at the headwaters of the Buffalo Rivers North Fork. The weather was ideal, high 60's, after a dense morning fog. I dressed for colder conditions and found myself down dressing within the first hour. Stream levels were high and crossing without waders proved challenging at times.
As usual I traveled light:
Lowa Banff Pro boots with smart wool light hikers for the dogs. Exofficio Ambush pants and Baja long sleeve shirt keeping me comfortable and offering plenty of storage for fly's, leaders and camera. Rod was a St. Croix Imperial 8', 4wt, 4pcs with a SA System1 456 reel and Cortland 444, wf 4wt floating line.
 My fly collection is composed of dries and nymphs from past Sierra high mountain trips. I blind cast a bead head "lightning bug" size 14 prospector into the pool heads with no takes.

For the Next Generation