West Fork Gals is a great old time tune. I was listening to it today and wondered about the West Fork. I have no doubt that some fine gals live along its banks. The name must refer to the West Fork River in North Central West Virginia. It’s a slow moving river – definitely not a trout stream as we think of them although it does hold some trout. It’s a popular fishing river, stocked with muskies and also holding carp and catfish bass, sauger and walleye. It has officially been the West Fork River since 1902.

The first video features fiddle and guitar back-up by Gadaya. The second features Curt Alsobrook

Writing this post, I just thought about that wonderful tune all about rivers – The Brazos. Let’s give it a listen…Here’s Townes, found on the YouTube machine….

Oh that was so good I need one more taste. Here’s a version featuring an autoharp by Chris Twomey.