Sloss recommends that anglers hit the river at sunup during the summer months. "The best fishing opportunities exist before the air temperature heats up and before direct sunlight strikes the water," he explained. "The same is true in the afternoon. That last hour or so as the sun begins slipping behind the ridges is a magical time to be on the river fishing."

Anglers visiting the Eleven Point have the opportunity to catch wild, stream-bred rainbows in the Blue Ribbon section of the stream from Greer Spring down to Turner Mill.

"These fish present the best challenge available on the River," Sloss indicated. "And there are some big fish there."

Interpreting what the best fly or lure to use on a particular stream can eat up a lot of fishing time for most fishermen as they utilize the trial and error method. Sloss saves valuable time for his clients, time that can be enjoyed while catching fish rather than sorting through fly boxes.

"Early in the morning I start out fishing a standard heavily weighted stonefly nymph, usually a size 6. The big fly looks meaty. A trout sees it as a bulky meal full of protein and nourishment. Black and brown are my two favorite colors for the summer months."

Every fishing guide has his personal bag of tricks, and Sloss is no different. "I like to fish a two-fly rig," he instructed. "My main fly is a big one, which I use to get the rig down to the bottom. It is a fly that represents a substantial meal and trout will move to eat it. The second fly is a dropper. I tie 12 to 15 inches of tippet material to the shank of the first hook and attach the second fly to that. My favorite fly for this purpose is Don's Crawdad in size 12 or 14. The river contains lots of crayfish, and the dropper imitator is very effective."

The natural food supply in the Eleven Point is amazing, according to Sloss. "All you have to do to check out the food sources for trout is to roll a few rocks around. Big nymphs are plentiful as are crayfish. Then there are minnows and terrestrial insects that wind up in the water. The food source is the reason the fish here grow big and colorful."

Sloss recommends using a 9-foot 5- or 6-weight rod. His personal favorite is a Winston, but he also uses a Bass Pro 270, and rods made by Temple Creek Outfitters, which are designed by Lefty Kreh.

The Eleven Point is a big river with strong currents and deep holes. A good pair of waders with a belt that can be securely tightened is recommended. The tight belt will keep water from quickly filling waders in the case of a fall into the water. Felt-soled wading shoes are a must because of the algae covered rocks. In some areas, the river bottom is solid bedrock and very slick. A quality wading staff is another good investment. It will help you stay on your feet and allow you to get to the tough spots that often hold good fish.

Every fisherman wants to know about the best spots to fish, and Sloss has the answers.

"I key on a few factors," he pointed out. "One of my favorite features to fish is at the end of a shoal with lots of current. There will usually be a deep hole at the ends of these shoals. I like to drift my flies along the break where the water really begins to deepen at the edge of the hole. Tout often hang close to these seams. The current is weaker there and fish will often travel a good distance to pick up food drifting by."

Boulders and other structure provide excellent trout lairs as well, as Sloss explained.