How this works: Every time you fish, tell Claude when, where, what you used, what worked, what didn't, what you saw, what you caught. It'll be added here as a dated entry, and the fish you caught will also show up in Pics with a link back to this entry.
Journal
2 days · 4 fish
Saturday · April 25, 2026
Abbotts Bridge · Hooch Float
First lesson with Dillon · Float trip · Greg + Ollie · 4 rainbows landed · Ollie's first fish on a fly rod
"Everything from last weekend got fixed in about ten minutes. Watching Ollie set the hook on his first fish on a fly rod was the whole trip."
🚣 The Float — Abbotts Bridge launch
Guided float · Dillon Lancaster (Southern Hackle)
Guide & Party
Dillon Lancaster · Southern Hackle Outfitters · Drift boat. Greg + son Ollie.
Rig & Flies
3-fly nymph rig under indicator · 5X fluoro · split shot
Lead: Pat's Rubberlegs
Middle: Frenchie Jig
Tail: Perdigon
Conditions (USGS Norcross 02335000 · 1:15 AM)
Water 54.5°F · Flow ~1,000 cfs · Stage 2.05 ft. Air mid-70s°F, partly cloudy. Good float water.
What Happened
Everything that went wrong on the 18th got fixed in the first ten minutes. Dillon retied the rig, set proper depth with split shot, and walked through mending. Took two nice rainbows on the Frenchie Jig in the middle slot — both came on clean drifts through seams Dillon called out before the cast. Ollie was on the bow most of the day. Hooked into his first fish on a fly rod by midday — set the hook clean, fought it himself, brought it to net. Picked up a second one in the afternoon. Four rainbows total to the boat between us.
Results
🐟 4 rainbows landed · Greg: 2 · Ollie: 2 (first fish on a fly rod)
Verdict
⭐⭐⭐ The trip that turned the corner. Float access opens up water you can't reach wading. Dillon is the real deal.
📓 What Dillon coached on
[Greg — fill in the specifics here: mending mechanics, depth/split shot setup, drift length, hook set timing, where to look for fish, anything else you want to remember.]
🎥 From the boat
📌 Takeaways for next trip
1. The 3-fly rig works. Pat's Rubberlegs / Frenchie Jig / Perdigon on 5X — that's the Hooch nymph stack to start with.
2. Split shot was the unlock. Confirms the April 18 diagnosis — get the flies down, get the fish.
3. Frenchie Jig in the middle was the producer for both of Greg's fish.
4. Float access is a different game. Worth booking another with Dillon before Noontootla.
5. Bring Ollie back. He's hooked.
2. Split shot was the unlock. Confirms the April 18 diagnosis — get the flies down, get the fish.
3. Frenchie Jig in the middle was the producer for both of Greg's fish.
4. Float access is a different game. Worth booking another with Dillon before Noontootla.
5. Bring Ollie back. He's hooked.
Saturday · April 18, 2026
Island Ford & Johnson Ferry
First solo trip · No guide · First time on the Hooch · Morning + afternoon
"It was just nice to be out there. A lot of mistakes, a lot of tangles, but the water was good and the morning was quiet."
🌅 Morning — Island Ford
Arrived 7:30 AM · ~15 min from home
Rig & Flies
Two-nymph setup · 4X leader & tippet · no split shot
Conditions
Quiet morning, only saw 2 other anglers on the trail the whole time.
What Happened
Found two fishable spots within 10 min of the parking lot. Nice rocks forming good pools at the bottom of runs, easy access, wadable water. Took a while just to get comfortable — tangles, mistakes, relearning everything without a guide standing next to me. No nibbles, no fish.
Results
🚫 No fish · No strikes
Why (my read)
• No split shot → flies weren't getting down to the fish
• 4X tippet too heavy for Hooch fish (should be 5X for nymphs, 6X for midges)
• User error — first solo time, still finding the rhythm
• 4X tippet too heavy for Hooch fish (should be 5X for nymphs, 6X for midges)
• User error — first solo time, still finding the rhythm
Verdict
⭐ Loved it. Will go back. This is my spot.
☀️ Afternoon — Johnson Ferry (North Lot)
Second attempt · Windy
What Happened
Very long walk from the North Lot before finding anywhere to even cast. The river is wide and open through that stretch — no fast water, no rocks, no tree cover. Casting was a real fight in the afternoon wind.
Results
🚫 No fish · No real nibbles
Verdict
👎 Did not like Johnson Ferry (at least from the North Lot). Maybe wrong spot — worth trying another access point before writing it off, but Island Ford beats it head-to-head.
📌 Takeaways for next trip
1. Add split shot. Non-negotiable on the Hooch — flies need to get down.
2. Drop to 5X tippet for nymphs, 6X if switching to midges.
3. Go back to Island Ford. The two pool spots within 10 min of parking are the move — work them properly.
4. Try the Frenchie Jig #14 + Flashback PT #16 rig (Rig 1) exactly as planned instead of improvising.
5. Skip Johnson Ferry North Lot — if giving it another chance, try a different access point.
2. Drop to 5X tippet for nymphs, 6X if switching to midges.
3. Go back to Island Ford. The two pool spots within 10 min of parking are the move — work them properly.
4. Try the Frenchie Jig #14 + Flashback PT #16 rig (Rig 1) exactly as planned instead of improvising.
5. Skip Johnson Ferry North Lot — if giving it another chance, try a different access point.