A little of that has to do with the fish because the West Fork's trout are very fickle. Some days it seems like there are virtually no trout in the river; Other days you can't do anything wrong. We caught a few trout on yesterday's West Fork adventure (10 collectively, I believe), but it was a pretty slow bite.
More has to do with the length and ruggedness of the trip. It's 1 1/2 miles by trail and 2 1/2 miles by river, with a lot of wading thigh-deep in swift current atop slick and uneven rocks and some need to climb boulders and steep banks. You have to cross the river a bunch of times, and a few spots are pretty tough to get through at all. Also, once you descend 350 vertical feet into the river gorge and start down the river, the only reasonable way out is to wade the whole thing.
The water level and temperature also impact perspectives. When it is very low, it's far easier to navigate. There was a surprising amount of water in the river yesterday given the season and the lack of any big recent rains.
Interestingly, the West Fork's greatest virtues and banes are largely one in the same. Folks who like the river best typically don't even care if the fish don't bite because they love the game of negotiating the gorge and think that climbing rocks and wading through rapids is fun. I'm in that camp, but I certainly understand the opposite perspective.
Something no one ever argues is that the scenery is spectacular, and with fall colors in full splendor, the river gorge is about as pretty as it will every be right now.
My legs and back are both a little sore this morning, but I'd be back in the West Fork gorge tomorrow if time would allow!
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