Upon arrival, I was greeted by Todd Harman himself, along with Tim Caudill, the Fly Fishing Shop Manager. They offered a brief tour of the operations, and we hopped into an ATV for a drive to the property's top ridge. The panoramic view of the area was breathtaking, with fall colors beginning to paint the landscape.
Luxurious Accommodations
We then explored some of the newly updated cabins. Each is equipped for several days of spa-like living, perfect for a getaway trip. All cabins boast well-appointed kitchens, hot tubs, fire pits, and grills. Most also include infrared saunas, steam showers, and rain showers, offering plenty of ways for the whole family to unwind.
First Cast
Late afternoon found me eager to wet a line. I had spotted some risers in one of the first pools below the bridge. The trout appeared to be sipping, so I tried a Griffith's Gnat. The water was a bit low, but recent rains had raised levels to about 100 cfs. When the Gnat proved unsuccessful, I switched to a Caddis with a Zebra Midge dropper. It wasn't long before I was landing several of the big bows that populate Harman's two-mile stretch of the North Fork. I fished productively until darkness fell, then made my way back to Cabin #12 for a relaxing evening and home-cooked dinner.
Day Two on the Water
The next morning dawned overcast. I headed to a nice set of riffles flowing into a deep pool about 50 yards from my cabin. Starting with a green Woolly Bugger, I was into trout almost immediately. Moving around the stream, I landed about eight nice-sized rainbows.
At 10:00 AM, I met up with Tim Caudill for a tour of the new Harman's North Fork Fly Shop and to checkout that week's stocking. The shop, added about two years ago, is well-stocked for anglers of all levels. In 2024, it became an authorized Orvis dealer, carrying rods, waders, vests, and a full range of Orvis gear. There was also a wide assortment of flies suitable for local waters and nearby streams.
Stocking Time
I followed the crew as they unloaded 500 pounds of trout along the stream. The stock included many 2-3 lb rainbows, as well as several larger steelhead hybrids in the 4+ lb range. Harman's stocks almost every two weeks in the fall. As a catch-and-release stream, the fish population holds up well into winter, making it one of the best times to fish.
Tim kindly transported me upstream via ATV to the top end of the private waters. This area was particularly scenic and secluded, with a different feel from the main cabin area. An eagle and a mink added to the day's wildlife sightings as I worked my way downstream.
Despite the overcast conditions, there weren't many risers that afternoon. I reverted to my caddis/Zebra Midge dropper setup from the previous evening. The midge proved to be the ticket for the remainder of the day. I experimented with other nymphs and BWOs but had no luck, so I stuck with what was working, landing several fish before calling it quits at dusk.
Final Thoughts
It was a memorable few days, and I appreciated the tour and time spent with the Harman's team. Next time, I'll bring my wife. Although she's not an angler, this getaway offers something for both of us to enjoy. The fall fly fishing season is truly hard to beat.
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