December 8, 2011
Hello Jeremy.

I would like to share last weeks success story and thank you for introducing me to fly tying a few years ago. I especially want to say thanks for teaching me to tie the “Hunts Miracle Fly“ egg pattern. You have taught me many patterns but the “Miracle Fly” is the heart of this story.

There are a lot of egg patterns out there that I have tied and tried a lot of them.
All of the patterns will elicited hits and catch fish however, the “Miracle Fly” and the hooks you now use and that I now tie with in the “Miracle Fly” pattern seems to have increase my hook up rate. I would like to say I am getting better as a fisherman and maybe that has a little to do with it, but having a hook that will hold in the fish and not bend or break is not due to my improving. It’s nice to know that at least one part of your rig isn’t going to “ give up”. I feel the shape of this hook is also a bit different, accounting for the improved hook up rate.

I hope this is not sounding like a TV infomercial. That’s not my intent.

Any Way:

We all have heard of “big fish flies” and most have tried a few. The problem I have experienced with these flies is that they don’t catch very many smaller fish; you know those between twelve and seventeen inches. Little bass will hit a lure larger than themselves, in my limited experience, not trout.

Most fishermen soon become bored (self included) when we are not catching fish. Like most who are somewhat new to the sport. I like to catch lots of fish and hope to luck into a big one now and then. There are the “Tim’s” that can fish all day for one big fish, not me.

Unfortunately, big fish don’t just happen unless you are a twelve year old fishing with a french fry. You just don’t happen into big fish on a regular basis. It takes a combination of a lot of things. One of the things that I like about an egg pattern is that, when tied and fished right, it performs as a “big fish” pattern that will also catch a lot of smaller fish making for a great day on the water.

Bragging but not bragging (“If you done it, it ain’t bragging.”) In my last five fishing days at Roaring River State Park I have hooked and landed about ninety or so fish with four fish over twenty-three inches. Good fish by any standard. I have enclosed a photo of the largest of the group’ It was just over twenty-seven inches. Not all of the ninety fish were hooked on the Miracle pattern but all of the bigger ones including several in the fifteen to seventeen range involved this fly as either the primary or attractor fly on my rig. That should say something. It does for me.

By the way, all the fish caught were released to be enjoyed on another day.

It was good seeing you on the stream the other day and taking part in your fly tying classes Saturday. I always learn something new that I can use. Your work and creativity is appreciated.

Weather permitting I will see you on December 17.

Thanks again

Dave

Also, if you haven’t checked out the video we put together fishing this fly click here to watch it!!

I’ve been over to Norfolk a few times since AGFC has made changes to the river. If you read my latest fishing report I touched a little on the upper part having some changes, but there are also some changes down at Cook’s hole, the last island in the trophy area, as well.  Because of the heavy winds the last few times I’ve been over there, we only waded and used the boat for a shuttle. During this last go around it worked well even though we had heavy winds blowing upstream.  However, I do like wind because of the chop.  I always use this to my advantage and it usually produces good results.  We didn’t put in until 11 or so because I wanted the water to drop out from the water they ran until 10am. I like it to be good and ready so the fish have adjusted to the falling water. Normally if you are fishing in these types of conditions the bite can be slow so I just wait it out.  It’s the patient thing this sport is teaching me the longer I’m learning it.

Cloud cover was the norm for the day and I guess I like that for streamer fishing, but we didn’t have the right conditions for that.  I always like sight casting when fishing an indicator rig in the sun. Dries were out because it was too windy, so we fished hard on the bottom and covered every inch of the half mile we decided to fish.  We had roughly five hours and it went by fast. We still could’ve fished spots longer. The good thing we had on our side was the weather.  It kept everyone off the river but us and two other people.  We almost had the entire river to ourselves and that is always a positive sign for what is to come.  As soon as we put in I actually rowed up to the first shoal.  This current is some of the best for this whole upper part and it gets pressured like crazy.  Using the boat to stay on the drift helps for staying on longer drifts, which is crucial when searching out bigger fish.  Nobody really fishes the far side and that is where I like to fish the slack water where I think the potential fish is holding in the particular pool. We weren’t surprised pulling out two fish on the first drift. We continued down the river fishing the far bank from the boat ramp. Our third fish was a solid brown that Will from this date as a fly fisherman as never caught.  So this day was a good day for him.  His first brown being quality is something you will always cherish.

As we continued through the day, we floated downstream and fished as we made our way down to the tailout before entering the next group of shoals. This new stretch has become deeper with a lot more deeper pools for big fish to stack up in; and because it’s on a hillside top it makes for shady cover for half the day… all positive signs in my book.  So I guess you could say we spent the majority of the day fishing this new spot that looked intriguing. Brad was able to hook a brown too, but Will got him today.  All in all they both had a good day spending time as friends over the Thanksgiving holidays. So check this spot out next time you plan on fishing Norfork tailwater, but always be safe and plan an escape route if they decide to generate water.

Cook’s Island

Some people I’ve heard like the new structure, but others don’t.  It’s always a catch “22” when rivers change.  I always think for the better in the long run and I would believe this to be the case for all rivers. We’ve had a lot of flooding over the last four years and each time they open the flood gates we can expect change. We guides have to learn new holes (which are the best part) and learn how to navigate the whole river all over again. One thing I have notice on Taneycomo is that there are more areas to fish downstream than ever before. It’s still hard to access and can be done from a boat, but this new stretch in low water can find yourself lost like you do fishing the shoals at Wildcat on the White.  Same with Norfork.  Lot’s more to do as if we didn’t have a lot of shoals already. To me, this is hands down the best fly water that actually makes you feel like only fly fisherman belong on this body of water.  NFOW would be second on my list.

The main thing I see as far as what AGFC has to do is keep these banks from eroding during the higher water floods.  Around the island are tons of boulders that change the way trout hold. There are a few other spots around that created sick holding lies. You have to float to see what I’m talking about.  I think the main thing that has to happen to all rivers that made the most significant changes will be pebble rock piling up and changing the shape of the rivers.  Along with fill in, this has made navigation a challenge big time, but not that bad for drift boats, hehe.

End Results

No cutthroat or brookies to the net on this day, but plenty of rainbows are still choked in this river.  I really wish in my own little world this would be an all catch-n-release river before the good Lord takes me.  I know wishful thinking, but I can. Thanks to Brad and Will, I had a great time and what a way to spend it on a river I always like to go back to.

I must say it wasn’t the same trip as I had the previous year. Everything was right for hitting the “good” water, or so I thought it was. We spent the weekend at Lobo Landing, which if you haven’t stayed here I would highly recommend it. It’s centrally located for great put and take out points if you have a drift boat.

The plan was to fish streamers in the falling water in the morning that they ran during the night. It was great water for streamers and from what I remember, this river is chocked full of brown trout. It was a good combination for what we wanted to do. We put in at Dripping and floated to Ramsey. It was probably a four hour float with no rowing time, but we made it to Ramsey in two hours because we burned through the frog water and only fished the faster shoal water with good oxygen. Reason being is we tried for the first mile to fish all the water and with little success, so we made the decision to hurry up and get this float done so we could put back in at Swinging Bridge and float to Lobo Landing.

We only managed to turn a few browns and to me that was odd. In all my streamer fishing on the White we always turn browns with little time to wait one out. My thoughts on the Little Red is they lost a lot of their brown trout population during the flood last year. Also, I have never done that well in falling water anywhere I go, so that could have also been some of the reason why we didn’t catch more fish. Either way I think this river is in bad shape and might take some time to bounce back.

The second float we did we got to fish low water. I was glad because it would really give us a chance to see what was left as far as big fish in this river. I did see a few big browns, but not the numbers. If you want cookie cutter rainbow those are everywhere, but I can fish those in my home water and they are actually way bigger for average size at Taneycomo. With saying that, it still was a awesome trip and I got to spend it with some great friends.

White River and Norfork

On the way down to the Little Red we made a float down the Norfork, and on the way back we fished the White. This whole trip was going to be a streamer trip with no indicators and that was the plan. The Norfork was fishing well, but everything we turned missed the fly all together. Some of the areas where these browns were holding on this particular river was in fast seams and that didn’t make for real good hook ups. They were running one unit, so the fly was in the strike zone for the majority of the time, so what happen….I don’t know. We should’ve had a few more hits, but it was getting dark so who knows what the problem was. I guess it’s just fishing.

Sunday we decided to skip fishing the Little Red and head over to the White to make up for some of this uneventful journey for big fish. We drifted from Wildcat to Cotter in seven units. We managed to hook a lot of browns, but nothing really big. But this made the trip complete and we all felt better about the week. To me if you are looking for brown trout then go the White, if you are after big rainbows go to Taney. I think out of all the tailwaters we have in the Ozark’s these two are fishing the best and are in the best shape right now!

photos courtesy by Dustin Brewer

A gorgeous brown released from the Pierre Marquette River, located on the northwest side of the state’s lower peninsula.

Rigging our Ross Reels up for a day on this unique and truly special river.

It is doubtful that this is the first, hot spring these oars have seen on the Pierre Marquette.

The Lower Peninsula Michigan trout fisheries are all about floating amongst the birches and enjoying the beauty of the area just that has remained virtually unchanged for eternity.

A Simm’s wading boot that could likely tell some amazing stories of season’s past on the Pierre Marquette.

If you don’t rig up properly on the PM, it’s going to be a long day because of the nature of this river with all the rocks and overhangs.

The Pierre Marquette is truly a mystical river that is most-enjoyed by those who are smitten with classic trout streams more than with fisheries where raking in numbers of fish is the primary objective.

photos courtesy by Dustin Brewer

This Arkansas Tailwater is the place to be for variety and big fish

I just wanted to post a brief rundown of two trips I did on the Norork over the last week. For those of you unfamiliar with this fishery, the ‘Fork is a short tailwater (4.8 miles) located below Norfork Dam, 25 road miles from Bull Shoals Dam. It was considered the White River’s “little brother” until the late 1990’s when it started to get attention, primarily as a big fish river that is perfect for fly fishing. In 2008, the entire area was subjected to two 100-year floods in a matter of two months, and the flood gates had to be opened wide at Norfork Dam – the emergency release crested at 80,000 cubic feet per second. This massive influx of water changed the Norfork significantly, and if you haven’t fished there in a few years, you will notice that it is a completely different place. After the floods, the fishing on the ‘Fork was quite inconsistent, but in 2011, the river appears to be back in a big way with respect to the number of fish and the size of the fish.

The trip I did over on the Norfork four days ago was remarkable. My client had fly fished before, but he was still in the learning process. We floated the river in low water (either fishing from the boat in deep areas or wading some of the better shoals) and he caught three big browns – they were all over 18 inches. He’ll be spoiled for life, but it just goes to show that anything is possible on the White River Basin tailwaters.

Then three days ago, I was part of a four man group trip with Tom Rogers taking two guys and I had two guys. The pressure was on me, as I had the two younger members of the party in my boat, and the father and grandpa really wanted them to catch some big fish. In the back of my mind I’m thinking, “how many times can this river produce trophy fish, especially for those new to the sport?” Still, I was up for the challenge. Well, one of the young men caught a grand slam, which means he landed four species of trout in one day; the Norfork brook trout numbers are increasing, but the fish are still pretty small. Still, the best cutthroat, rainbow and brown trout he caught were all nice fish for that river. As we approached the lower third of the river, we still hadn’t hooked into anything really big, and I was starting to wonder if it was in the cards for us. As we approached a very shallow gravel area near the bank, I was asked if it was worth casting over there by the guy who didn’t catch the grand slam.

When fishing from the boat on a small river like the Norfork during low water, I stress to my clients that it pays to cast downstream at least forty feet so that spooky fish in that area will see the fly before they see the shadow of the boat. Since he was all ready to cast, I told him to give it a try; I wasn’t expecting much, but you never know. All of a sudden, there’s an explosion on the surface and he’s hooked into a 20-inch brown. We both jumped out of the boat – my client had to chase the brown down because it made a long first run. After a pretty lengthy battle, this beauty was brought to hand, and the day was officially a great success. The fathers were happy, my clients were happy and I was amazed at how productive the Norfork has become once again.

The biggest downside to fishing the Norfork is that there are only two good accesses: one is at the dam and one is near the bottom of the river where the catch and release area ends. This means that the majority of water on this amazing fishery cannot be accessed on foot, even if the water is low. Because a boat is needed to get into the best areas, most of the guides don’t mess with the Norfork and its logistical challenges, but a little bit of work can pay off in a big way. If you do walk in, be sure not to stray too far from your access because it’s easy to get stuck on the wrong side of the river if the water comes up. Because Norfork Lake is steadily rising and is currently a foot over power pool, flow conditions will be inconsistent, but there will still be some low water opportunities. Once the reservoir gets three to five feet above power pool, heavy releases will likely occur until the lake drops back to normal levels – the Corp can drop the lake a foot every 24 hours, so high-water periods can be relatively brief. If you get the chance, the next few weeks should be amazing, as long as we don’t get any really heavy rains, and the Norfork tends to fish well through the summer and into early October. Give me a call if you want to discuss this amazing fishery any further, and I would be happy to point you in the right direction.

I had the opportunity over the weekend to take a few days and fish with Jeremy Hunt and Tom Rogers.  I’ve known and fished with Jeremy for several years now but only had the opportunity to meet Tom during this trip.  Between the two of them, I spent three days getting an education in humility and maybe added a few tricks to the bag too.

We spent the first day floating the North Fork of the White River from Blair to Dawt Mill.  The water is really low right now so it made it a little tougher of a bite than normal.  Jeremy had done really well streamer fishing the past four days so we dedicated ourselves to the thundersticks and Kelly Galloup patterns.  The combination of the incoming front and the fact that the fish had been hit pretty hard for the better part of a week kept us to only three browns in the 16-18 inch range, all landed by Tom, along with a half-dozen or so spotted bass and a few chubs, all on articulated streamers.  I’m sure my performance didn’t help the situation any either, but by the midway point the rust was pretty much shaken off.

We slept in Saturday because Jeremy had a tying class that afternoon and the bite on Taney hasn’t really picked up until late morning to mid-day recently now that the water is generally off.  Tom and I decided to fish the boat ramp to KOA to avoid the crowds and capitalize on the midge bite.  It didn’t take long for the bead head midges to start fooling the recently stocked Neosho hatchery rainbows.  Not too long after we started, Tom hooked into a nicely colored, thick rainbow in the neighborhood of 18 inches.  After taking a few pictures I turned around to find that I had a three inch sculpin attached to my fly.  A couple more shots of my trophy and we were back to it.

Conditions were tough on Taneycomo all day but we caught enough fish to keep us interested, finally giving in to hunger sometime around 5:00.  Toward the end of the day, Tom started fishing dry flies in a way that I’ve never seen before.  He can create explosive topwater takes that remind me of bass fishing with a popper.  I won’t get into the details of his technique but I will strongly suggest seeing it first-hand.

We finished the weekend on Sunday with a trip down to Rim Shoals on the White.  Jeremy had a trip so Tom and I waded.  The shoals were pretty crowded so we fished the often ignored water above them until they cleared out.  Jeremy followed a similar pattern in his drift boat, but with much better success.  His clients claimed a triple-digit day and he confirmed later.  The main advantage they had was the boat: their drifts could go for days and they could fish water we couldn’t get to.

When the shoals cleared out around mid-day Tom and I had them to ourselves but couldn’t make anything happen.  Toward mid-afternoon, Tom started hooking up on the miracle fly and ended up bringing in two nice browns.  I didn’t fare so well and found myself at the butt of some good-spirited humor when it was all said and done in the parking lot that evening.

In all I had as much fun as I’ve had in a long time.  I got to see old friends, meet new ones, and catch a trout, not to mention that I fished three rivers in three days which isn’t an opportunity that manifests itself very often.  The ghosts of good days past also decided to collect their dues.  It happens like that sometimes and there just isn’t anything you can do but enjoy yourself and remember that if it was always easy it’d just be plain boring.

I wrapped up the year making a trip to California to do some steelhead fishing and spend time with family. I arrived in Sacramento December 30, got my rental car and headed north on I-5 for a two and a half hour drive. On my way up I spoke with my fishing buddy Nick, we set our plans for the next day to meet up on the west side of Redding and then head up to the Trinity River. I made it up to my mom’s house where I grew up. It was great seeing her; I hadn’t seen her for a year. We ate one of her great home cooked meals, had some desert visited for awhile and then I was ready for some sleep.

The next morning I woke at 5a.m. to meet Nick on the other side of town for a day on the Trinity, we jumped in his truck and 45 minutes later we arrived. There was a beautiful dusting of snow from the night before. We got our waders on, geared up and started up the river.

California had been getting slammed with rain, so I wasn’t sure if it was going to be blown out or not. Our plan was to fish the upper end where there is more controlled water. Being closer to the dam there would be less run off and other creeks adding to it. The area we went didn’t look too bad. We decided to head up river and work our way back down. After walking for a while we were getting anxious to get in the water, so we stopped at one of Nicks favorite holes and I’m glad we did. Nick set me up in the right spot and we started making our drifts. After about five drifts I moved out a little farther in the water. There was a pretty good current going and the water was a little stained, so it made walking tough. Falling is always a possibility, especially with all the big rocks and ledges. I almost went for a swim quite a few times. I’m sure glad I didn’t, that water was down in the forties.

I made my way out to a shelf in the middle of the river, so I could get a little higher vantage point and I was also able to get a drift over towards the other side in a good seam. It all paid off, my indicator went down and this time there was a solid hook up. The fish came towards me and I started moving back to help catch up with the line, luckily when I started back I didn’t step off into a hole. I didn’t get any jumps out of this fish but he did put up a great fight. Nick helped me land it and I heard him say it was a native steelhead. By the way I caught it on Jeremy Hunt’s Miracle Fly.

It was really cool catching a native steelhead. The fish have not been thriving in California Rivers for quite some time. There have been many factors that have damaged the rivers and depleted the supply of fish. I do believe there are some hatcheries working hard to restore the rivers. So many of the fish you will see in the Trinity have the rear dorsal fin cut off, which tells me their hatchery is doing a great job of replenishing the fish.

We took a few pics and then Nick hooked a nice fish, it was pulling and stripping out line, then it made a b-line towards the trees along the shore. Nick finally got it in and it was a good one. It was the first nice sized brown he had caught while steelhead fishing on the Trinity. We sat and discussed whether or not it was a sea run brown. Some say that they are sea run browns, but Nick mentioned that he doesn’t know of anyone that has caught one closer to the ocean, so it may just be that the browns are in there year round. It would be nice if they could implement a brown hatchery to increase fishing all year round, it is definitely a beautiful river.

We decided to walk up farther and fish some other holes and had no luck, so we went back down to the honey hole. The water had gone up a little, but I didn’t find out until I started going out to the shelf I was on before. I quickly found out that it was too high. I started moving my way back but struggled due to the current, so I quickly started bouncing down stream towards the shore. Luckily it didn’t drop off. I started to cast again and my line got tangled up, while I was working on that Nick hooked into a nice steelhead.

We decided to head down river about ten miles to a place we fished last year. After getting down there the water was too high, so we headed up to Lewiston which is closer to the dam. We worked our way down below the steel bridge. Nick started fishing the first hole and I went on down to the next. I just started to fish and I heard Nick yell. I ran back up stream and Nick had hooked another steelhead, so I got some video footage and a few good pictures. We fished our way down a little farther then we started to make the long walk back. We had covered quite a few miles and fished a lot of water, what a great way to spend the last day of 2010.

Well I had planned on fishing some more that week, but I ended up getting really sick, so I was not able to. I did get a lot of quality time with my mom and it was great spending time with my family.

The Norfork Tailwater is the stretch of trout stream that starts below Norfork Dam and ends with its confluence with the White River. At just under 5 miles, the Norfork is the shortest piece of coldwater habitat below any of the Ozark dams, but what it lacks in length, it more than makes up for in prolific habitat. The river is literally loaded with scuds, which are freshwater shrimp that have been dubbed by trout biologists as the “perfect” trout food, and this strong forage base coupled with healthy populations of sow bugs, midges, sculpins, minnows, crayfish and a myriad of aquatic-born insects, it is easy to see why the ‘Fork may be ‘tops’ in the country when it comes to trout growth rates. Besides being home to primarily rainbows and browns, the Norfork also boasts significant numbers of brook and cutthroat trout, so the angling experience on this stream is unique in comparison to its sister tailwaters with respect to both the large average size of the fish coupled with the fact that it is common to catch four species of trout (actually, just ‘3’ because brookies are considered a char) in a single day. This feat is commonly referred to as an “Ozark Grand Slam”. So what are the problems facing this seemingly incredible river?

Don’t get me wrong, when the Norfork is ‘on’, there may be no finer fishing in the country with respect to catching both high numbers of trout and trout exceeding 18-inches, but as many of the region’s veteran anglers will tell you, “the ‘Fork is nothing like it used to be.” From the 1950’s through the 1990’s, the Norfork was considered by many as a ‘backup’ to the White because it is a logistically challenging river to navigate by boat and wading wasn’t all that popular until somewhat recently. This lack of recognition definitely helped keep the fishing pressure low, and for many folks, the Norfork almost seemed like a secret honey-hole. Of course, when it comes to exceptional trout habitat coupled with amazing fishing, secrets only stay that way for so long, and by the early ‘90’s, the Norfork was the most popular spot in the region for fly anglers. Because most of the river’s users at this time were conservation-minded, the ‘Fork experienced a “hey-day” during this period, but as the word spread amongst the bait-fishing and harvest contingencies regarding the amazing fishing, the number of angler hours almost quadrupled overnight, and many very large fish were harvested; this has caused the fishing to be far more inconsistent than it used to be. Such a small river can only take so much abuse, and now you hear more complaints than accolades, and the White River, once again, has regained its position as the Mountain Home area’s biggest trout draw for both fly and bait fishermen.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) has taken notice of the decline in the quality of the overall fishing experience on the Norfork over the last ten years, but no one can agree on what the best course of action is when it comes to restoring this river to its past glory. There have been several attempts by the AGFC to make trophy trout fishing a larger component of the ‘Fork (once in the early 2000’s and again in 2009). In both cases, backdoor meetings, favoritism and political clout ended up clouding what should be a relatively simple process. The bottom line is that the majority of fishermen would prefer to catch bigger fish, even if it means giving up the use of natural and scented baits, and they are also willing to curtail some of their harvest. But like with any type of public appeal that makes perfect sense, the desires of a few have had the ability to keep this treasured resource from once again reaching its potential.

The first attempt at sweeping regulations were stalled by a Commissioner who has made a name for himself in the bass fishing industry (which is ironically dominated by catch and release practices) – in this particular case, ‘he’ was going to vote against certain waterfowl regulations if the Commissioners who favored these regulations went along with making the entire Norfork a slot-limit river. Last year’s (2009) attempt to lengthen the current catch and release area was mysteriously shot down after overwhelming support at public meetings coupled with favorable data collected via angler and creel surveys. It turned out that several Commissioners and other high-ranking AGFC employees met “off the record” with a group opposed to this approximately one-mile extension because they thought it would hurt their businesses. The public was never informed of the gathering(s). Not only does this violate state “Sunshine Laws” and the Freedom of Information Act, it also clearly displays that the biggest hurdle confronting the ‘Fork is the way in which regulations are made and voted on. It is clearly wrong that commercial interests and our governor appointed Commissioners, who are supposed to represent the best-interests of the state’s sportsmen, have been successfully able to thwart what Arkansas has felt is the best course of action when it comes to the management of a popular (but declining) public resource, and until the corruption and “inside deals” come to an end, anglers in search of the best trophy fishing in the region will have to look somewhere besides the Norfork.

After years of collecting and extrapolating data, it is clear that the hook-mortality that accompanies the use of natural and scented baits is inadvertently a detriment to trout fisheries everywhere, and these effects are worse during low to moderate water flows. Conversely, artificial lures and flies, both barbed and de-barbed, have significantly less of a negative impact. Since it would be impossible to make it a rule that the dams have to release heavy water at all times to protect the trout, most regulations supported and proposed by AGFC Trout Biologists who are concerned about the entire Norfork’s trophy fish potential focus on reducing hook-mortality and limiting the number of fish that can be harvested. “Slot-limits” have proved to work exceedingly well on other stretches of Ozark tailwaters because they allow for the harvest of a few small fish for consumption and one large trophy fish; trout in the “slot” (for example, between 14 to 22 inches) have to be released immediately. Of course, there is no point of protecting a significant piece of water if good numbers of the protected fish are going to die as a result of improper handling or because of swallowing of a hook with a piece of bait affixed to it, so in order for a slot-limit to be as effective as possible, artificial lures and fly rules must be implemented. The other option that has been considered is to make the entire tailwater “catch and release only”, but I feel that a slot-limit would work just as well, while allowing a larger number of anglers the opportunity to enjoy this remarkable tailwater.

 If a slot-limit was instituted, most agree that the Norfork would rival any trout destination in the country with respect to both the numbers and size of the fish. High-water cycles would help protect the river from excessive pressure, and avid anglers would travel from all around to take part in the incredible fishing. As a result, the area would generate more revenue, and there would still be plenty of water on the White River for those who prefer to use bait and keep a stringer of fish. This all makes perfect sense to the majority of those who have a stake in the Norfork Tailwater, but no battle worth fighting is ever going to come easy. If you think that a slot-limit on the entire Norfork would be a good idea, be vigilant by writing to the Commissioners, attending public meetings and educating others who do not fully understand the significance of what these regulations would mean. A slot-limit will only work if it starts at the dam and eliminate the use of bait. Feel free to call or email me anytime if you would like to discuss this issue further or want to know how to get involved. It is always a shame when a man-made or natural event causes a decline in a fishery, but luckily for those who care about this special river, the Norfork’s biggest problem is a broken regulation process and unscrupulous Commissioners. Those issues can be mended, and I feel it is only a matter of time before there is an overhaul of the entire system and the ‘Fork will once again prosper. Remember, with the abundance of food sources in place and the very fast growth rates of trout on the Norfork, it’s never too late to save this one of a kind fishery.

By Kyle Almeling

 I recently had plans to fish Taneycomo for a few days after a hunting trip got ended early and I still had vacation days to use.  Well, after calling and talking to Jeremy, which I often do before heading toward Branson, he informed me the plan was to run water the next few days and the crowds were as bad or worse than usual for this time of year.  This made my decision easy.  The Current in fall is breathtaking, with the turning leaves and the sun peaking into the valley, and the fishing is usually great as well.  It also doesn’t hurt that family friends have a cabin I can use on occasion and a bed is much more inviting than sleeping in the back of my Trailblazer.  When I informed Jeremy of my plans he seemed very interested in fishing the Current as he had not been in awhile.  I was quick to invite him as he is always welcoming and helpful in my trips to Taney.

Jeremy arrived to the cabin a few hours after I and we had dinner in the Lodge with discussion on the next days game plan.  We decided to start in the park and fish our way down stream to Tan Vat.  Our hope was that the browns were working there way upstream and we would have a shot as some quality fish.  We fished the C&R area in the park for awhile catching some very nice rainbows on small streamers and the “miracle fly”.  The rest of the day we worked our way down always looking for that quality fish, but to no avail.  We caught lots of small to decent sized rainbows on a variety of flies.  There are a ton of fish in the water below the park.  There were literally about 100 stacked up in the Rock Garden and there were eager to feed.  We wound up finding one Redd not too far upstream of Tan Vat (please be careful not to disturb the fish trying to procreate).  It was really neat to see one as I never had and it was good to know that these fish are trying to ensure the future of their species. (I understand that many say that none of the eggs will hatch due to the temperature of the water, but if just a few would I believe we should give them every opportunity.)  Jeremy wound up leaving late in the afternoon on Wednesday and since I had the tag and the day was growing short I decided to fish the park (a lot less walking).  I fished the bluff hole and had a heck of a caddis hatch coming off.  I threw a 16 Elk Hair Caddis and caught several fish.  There is not much as satisfying watching a fish sip your fly off the surface.  

 I got on the river at Tan Vat at dawn on Thursday.  I fished several of the runs down stream with a large black streamer working each one diligently.  In one run I was stripping the streamer and slam.  I suddenly find myself with a large hard fighting brown on the opposite end.  He jumps four times and tears off down stream.  After a short fight I get him to net, snap a few pictures and take a measurement.  21″ length and 10″ girth male, the largest trout I have ever caught in this river.  Even using heavy tippet (3x) and a relatively short fight this fish was tuckered out.  I spent the better part of the next half-hour reviving him and he finally darted away under his own power.  He was truly a great fish and I will never forget his acrobatics.  After that it was starting to get late and I sill had to clean the cabin and get home so I decided to nymph my way back to Tan Vat, as stripping streamers all morning in tight spaces can start to put a drain on ones arm and concentration.  I tied on an egg cluster patters, as I figured with seeing a few redds the rainbows would be quick to take.  I caught a few nice rainbows one being about 18″ and left feeling very satisfied.  It was one of my best fishing days and by far my best on the Current. 

 Hope you all get a chance to get on the river soon!

 Kyle

Anyone who has ever been a fly fishing guide can vouch for how frustrating it can be when a simple case of “angler error” results in the loss of a trout of a lifetime. It is much easier when I make a mistake personally and lose a large fish because I know I will get another opportunity to land a behemoth; I can fish whenever I want, whereas, the majority of the people I take out fly fishing are lucky to a shot or two at a pig over the course a season – and this is only if they have the time to get out on the water at least a couple of times.

There are literally hundreds of ways that a fly fisherman can lose a nice trout on prolific fisheries like the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo, and in the majority of cases, fate plays just as big a role in success or failure as any blatant errors that an angler may make. Sometimes, after a properly-played fight, a fish will pop off for no apparent reason, or conversely, someone will get a hog to the net after making every mistake in the book, so it’s critical to realize that skill and luck both play major roles when it comes to actually landing a big one. The fish on our rivers do not grow to trophy size by being stupid with what they eat and how they engage in battle, so there are definitely elements of luck and skill involved when it comes to landing massive trout quickly (as to avoid over-stressing the fish) and successfully. Hopefully, the tips below will help those new to fishing for big trout with their ability to effectively fight and bring to hand a much sought-after Ozark beauty.

The quickest way to lose a hard-fighting and wily fish is to let the fly line go slack; even if it just happens for a split-second. There are many ways that unintended slack can become an issue: a pole could be dropped in a fit of excitement, the fish may make such a long run that a portion of the fly line becomes submerged (thus causing slack) or a “submarine” of a brown may make a 180-degree turn and start heading straight at the angler with such speed that it is impossible to strip or reel in the line fast enough to maintain a tight connection with the fish. It is not overly difficult to practice different techniques for avoiding and make the most out of these types of mishaps with a short amount of productive time on the water fighting trout of all sizes, as the most common ways in which anglers lose tightness on large fish are almost completely avoidable – this fundamental ‘process of errors’ is what I refer to as the “triangle of death”.

Hopefully, I have made it clear that slack in the fly line is the number-one way in which anglers of all skill levels lose big fish. Effectively fighting and landing a large, wily trout is a 50/50 proposition if everything is done perfectly, and these odds shift significantly in the fish’s favor with each minor mistake an angler makes. The “triangle of death” refers to how the fly line appears with respect to how the fly rod is handled during a fight with a fish, and the worst error that many excited fishermen make is when they accidentally strip line in front of their forefinger on their casting hand. This is a common mistake, but a deadly one because the angler will inevitably lose control of the fly line and this will almost always result in unwanted slack. The “triangle” in the “triangle of death” refers to the triangular shape that line resembles in front of forefinger. With this unneeded slack, it becomes impossible to maintain the line-control that is mandatory when trying to keep a tight line on an unpredictable trophy fish.

Combating and eventually eliminating the “triangle of death” involves commitment, and there will likely be some heartbreak along the way. Once you realize the mistakes that you commonly make, it will not take long for the “triangle of death” to be in your past. The first step in the process of becoming more proficient at fighting large fish involves getting into the habit of ALWAYS stripping your line from behind your forefinger – whether you are fighting a fish or stripping your line to make a fresh cast, and NEVER allow for there to be even a smidgen of slack between your stripping finger and the first guide on the fly rod.  Remember that your forefinger acts as your drag system, especially during the first few moments after hooking up. I do prefer that my clients fight big fish ‘on the reel’, but getting to this point takes patience and concentration; trying to reel in a bunch of excess fly line while worrying about the sudden actions of an angry trout is another way to put unwanted slack in your line or to make a myriad of other mistakes. A fish that is big enough to fight on the reel will usually get on the reel without any help during their first or second long run, but there are situations when a trout will fight close in, and if this occurs, trying to ‘force’ such a fish onto the reel will most likely result in a tragedy. In order to be a complete and confident fly fishermen who is ready to take their skill set to the next level, learning to control slack line while utilizing correct stripping techniques is what separates pro-status anglers from the pretenders.

Please feel free to call or email me if you have other questions regarding the “triangle of death” or any other technical aspects of handling big trout with a relatively light setup (3 to 6-weight rods rigged with 5x or 6x tippet). I made plenty of critical errors regarding line control during my learning phase as a fly fisherman, but luckily for me, I cut my teeth on the White River Basin, so there was always the chance to redeem myself on any given cast. There is no way that I would claim that practice has made me perfect, but I now am confident enough in my abilities to the point that I rarely lose a big fish because of poor stripping techniques or slack fly lines, and I do relish the times when one of my clients shows marked improvement over the course of a day on the water and they land a big one as a result. Although I do pride myself on putting fly anglers on as many fish as possible for the conditions at hand, my biggest satisfaction comes from showing people how to have the most fun and an extremely productive day on the water.

It’s getting to be that time of year again when fly fishers are counting the days until the brown trout run starts in earnest on the White, Norfork and Lake Taneycomo. I never encourage fishing for trout that are actively spawning, but there are ways to ethically take advantage of this annual event without compromising one’s ethics, and this particular topic will be covered in the “guides tips” section later on in this newsletter. Currently, scores of big browns are starting to move upstream to stage on Taneycomo and the Norfork, but it will be at least another month before pre-spawn activities start on the White.

When the brown trout on the Norfork and Taneycomo start to move upstream as a part of their “procreation process”, anglers are privy to unique opportunities to go after these behemoths in a setting that is void of the typical crowding that goes along with any opportunity where big fish are susceptible. Pounding actively spawning fish is not representative of anglers who take the wild trout potential of these rivers seriously, and most ‘true’ fly fishermen would rather forgo the chance at catching a big, beat up brown amongst the masses in lieu of having some water to themselves. That said, there are methods and techniques that are not detrimental to our beloved fisheries when wetting a line during the spawn – the issues arise when groups of fishermen hoard certain spots and basically harass trout that are in shallow water.

My guide schedule is starting to book up for much of October (especially on the weekends), but there are still plenty of days available for those who want a shot at a “fish of a lifetime”. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about fishing the runs on the Norfork and Lake Taneycomo, and I am more than eager to share some of the knowledge I’ve amassed over the course of fishing these rivers for many years. The Norfork is already loaded with browns, and they are also starting to move into the lower trophy area on Taneycomo. This year promises to be one of the best in recent memory, and if the region doesn’t see any more significant rainfall over the next month, there should be plenty of low-water opportunities for those who prefer to wade.

It is no secret that it is hard for anyone to pass up the opportunity to cast at a 25-inch brown that is stationary in shallow water, but this is exactly the type of behavior that needs to be discouraged by ethical anglers of all types. When spawning, many huge trout will congregate on and around redds (spawning beds), and at these times, feeding is the last thing on these fish’s minds. Instinct dictates almost all animal behavior, and there is absolutely no reason that any “educated” fish would put themselves in a compromising position unless it is for the greater good of their species.

White River Basin trout are subject to pressure 365 days a year, and as sportsmen, it is important to realize that fishing over spawning trout does not constitute a “fair chase”. Many of the fish hooked on redds are often snagged, and when they do bite a fly or lure, it is often to protect the nest or out of aggression. I can see how this practice could be deemed acceptable in situations where salmonoids ascend the rivers of their birth from a huge body of water, but as mentioned, trout in the Ozarks never get a break, and fishermen (and their techniques) keep getting more proficient with each passing year. During their runs, White River Basin trout throw caution to the wind in an effort to pass on their superior genetics to the next generation, and this is why most of the REALLY big trout (over 12 pounds) found in Arkansas and Missouri are completely wild. Over-fighting or harvesting a spawning fish is not only narcissistic; if that fish dies of exhaustion, a part of the river’s prolific history is lost forever.

I don’t expect anglers to put up their gear just because there is spawning activity going on, but with a little bit of observation and diligence, it is possible to fish at these times without potentially damaging a fishery. The first step is to avoid the redds at all costs. This means being exceedingly aware of where you are walking. Spawning beds are cleared out areas that range from the size of a car’s hood to the size of an SUV, and eggs will remain in these spots for over seven weeks before they hatch, so avoiding the redds is important long after the last fish has spawned. On Lake Taneycomo, hoards of fishermen fish elbow to elbow in the hatchery outlets, and this practice epitomizes everything that is wrong with fishing during the spawn. Greed, egos and hoarding have no place in the world of trout fishing, and only the most insecure of anglers would even think of fishing the outlets during the brown run on Lake Taneycomo.

Keep in mind that just because one can see big fish on redds and in hatchery outlets does not mean that these are the only trophies in the river. Fishing in deep water below the spawning beds is not only ethical, it also offers up the chance at catching a “fresh” fish that doesn’t have egg patterns stuck in their tails and backs. I won’t pretend to be an expert in coldwater biology, but from what I’ve gathered, trout spend far more time staging below the beds than they spend actually spawning – this means that the majority of big fish are NOT on the redds or in shallow water at any given time. Another way to target big browns during the spawn is to fish key areas during high water. Although releases tend to be on the lighter side in October and November, there are still days when the dams will run water all day, and this provides a prime opportunity to fish ‘blind’. Personally, this is my favorite scenario for fishing during the runs because you never know what you might hook into. There is nothing quite like the feel of a big fish that takes a fly in an area where you know they are stacked up. Finally, fishing at night is a blast when it comes to working water where big trout are holding, and because browns are primarily nocturnal feeders, there is no better time to target these fish because they are not as spooky.

Fishing the brown trout runs on the White River Basin is not about pounding browns in shallow water. In fact, this type of fishing should not be encouraged if you are at all concerned with the possibility of increased numbers of wild fish in the system. The tips and techniques listed above can be an absolute blast, and I remember one particular day when I caught one brown after another on small dry flies just downstream of a mob of anglers fighting to get a drift in outlet #1 at Taneycomo. Spawning trout deserve to “do the deed” with as little disruption as possible, and by thinking outside of the box, it’s possible to catch a fish of a lifetime while having no significant negative impact on the fisheries.

It’s one thing to talk about ethically fly fishing during the brown runs on Lake Taneycomo and the Norfork Tailwater, but without a little “inside” information, it’s easy to revert back to the temptation to drift egg patterns over the redds. In this section, I am going to specifically describe the techniques and spots that I like to fish during the brown runs. It’s doubtful that any other guide would publish this type of information, but I think the world of my subscribers, so I want to give you all the best chance at having a successful day on the water if you make it to the Ozarks this fall.

Honestly, there really aren’t any places to wade in Quarry Park (Norfork Dam) during low water without possibly stepping on spawning beds, so I would skip this area all together and leave those fish for the ‘amateurs’. Instead, focus on the deep water below the small island, and there are always loads of staging browns from the downstream boundary of Quarry Park to the bottom of Gene’s Hole. Egg patterns do work well in this spot, but for whatever reason, Zebra Midges in a variety of colors seem to appeal to these slow-water fish when the river is dead low. I like to use tungsten patterns because they stay down more effectively than those tied with regular beads. Do not wade past Gene’s dock unless you have a way to get back to the park if the water comes up, and the rest of the river is inaccessible until you get to the Handicapped/Ackerman Access. If you do have a boat, focus on areas like the Long Hole, the area where McClellen’s Shoal slows down, and all around the island below the waterfall/plunge pool. I would avoid Gulley’s Shoal, but the deep water below there is another prime spot for staging browns.

When walking into the Handicapped/Ackerman Access, head upstream towards the islands. There is a great spot below the island where a huge rock sticks out of the middle of the river, but do not expect these fish to be pushovers. Tiny egg patterns and nymphs are the ticket in this area due to the fact that this is the ‘smallest’ water on the Norfork and it also receives a ton of pressure. Avoid the narrow (Charlie Cooke’s) side of the island, as there is no way to fish ethically in the flat water below the short riffle. There is nothing wrong with hitting the main channel on the other side, though, and there are some great sight-fishing areas where the water starts to slow down. The majority of fish are going to be around the upstream islands, and there are very few spots downstream of the access/parking areas that are worth the effort of getting into position due to the lack of accessibility.

For those unaware, the brown run at Lake Taneycomo is a little different than what transpires in Arkansas. Part of this has to do with the fact that this tailrace is comprised of very slow water from Table Rock Dam all the way down to Powersite Dam when there is no power being generated. This means that conditions are not exactly ideal from a low-flow perspective for trout to spawn successfully on this stretch of water. This doesn’t mean that the fish don’t try, and with the help of hatchery personnel who collect spawning browns from outlet #3, the “Taneycomo Strain” is a ‘virtually’ wild fish with the potential to grow very large. Please try and avoid fishing near any of the outlets during the run, and instead focus on the area downstream of outlet #3 down to the Point. Although this information is hardly a secret, most fishermen cannot avoid the temptation to slam the resting and ‘spawning’ browns near the dam.

Another strategy when fishing Taneycomo during the brown run is to “let ‘em have it”. What I mean by this is that even though the majority of browns are going to be congregated from the Point up to the dam, that is also where there are hoards of people. Sometimes, I like to take the “road less travelled” and fish from the Rocking Chair Hole down to Point Royale. I still catch the occasional brown, but my intention is to find some solitude and have fun with some less-pressured, fat rainbows. The derby mentality of fishing the reaches of upper Taneycomo gets old, but if you’ve never seen it before, it’s worth checking out just to witness the spectacle of it all.

Because this month’s newsletter is all about conservation, I’ve decided to put off this portion until next month.

Be assured that I will be out scouting our local waters virtually every day, and I promise to keep everyone updated regarding the latest conditions. The browns are starting to move around and stack up on the Norfork and at Lake Taneycomo, but I expect that this activity will increase exponentially over the next couple of weeks. Be sure to check out my latest report on the Web site where I will rehash my adventures of a nighttime float in Arkansas in search of some really big browns. This type of experience is available to my clients, so if you are interested, just drop me a line. I hope that everyone gets to experience the thrill of Ozark fly fishing in the fall this year with all the beautiful fish, gorgeous scenery and near-perfect weather.

As the flows from Lewiston dam subside to less life-threatening levels and summers brutal grip begins to lighten upon the California north state, a seemingly mythical migration begins. One by land, the other by sea, destine to unite in a secluded tail out kept secret by the crystal clear waters of the Trinity River.

Within a few dedicated anglers, this changing of season conjures up a small subconscious voice that whispers tails of silver summersaults and screaming reels of seasons past. Soon these whispers can no longer be muffled (no matter how loud you play Zeppelin III) and it is time. The weekly migration over Buckhorn summit begins. Early mornings and later nights, the early season junkie cashes in a life of leisure, filled with caddis stuffed frankentrout of the lower sac and postcard perfect waters of the Mccloud, for “zeros” on the punch card and worn out boots. There are few fish in the river, and we know it, the odds are stacked but as is the case with any great prize. So we hunt.

These are a different fish; wild, strong and chrome. They are wise, knowing every hole in every gill net. Strategically they navigate the great waters of the Klamath with precision and speed before hangin’ a right at the confluence of the Trinity and finishing the mission home.  Sure their hatchery raised, twice- removed, second cousins will fill the river in the months to come, but leave those for the dinner table, for the early season Trinity Steelhead is a different beast.

In search of the fix I found myself a mile north of Steel Bridge on the upper Trinity last week, September 7 to be exact. Accompanied by fellow addict Russ Kegler of The Fly Shop, we spent the morning hours coaxing a few small brown trout to smaller parachutes and feeling out the river for the new season at hand. Sometime around noon, just as the shadows began to leave the water, the sink-tip came out and it was time to go to work. Midway through a beautiful run, I clipped off the black bunny leach and dug out a creation that was the product of a long barley-aided tying session we had some time ago. It’s a thing of wonder really; looks something like a bushy articulated flying squirrel floating on the water before the sink tip pulls it under for the first swing, screams past your head like one too.

I gave the first cast a mend and tried to picture what that thing had to look like down there as it began to cross the tail out. As the line began to straighten out I commenced day dream mode and wrote it all off…a second too soon. Instantly it happened, the GRAB, the needle prick, the shock, the rush, adrenal glands pumping overtime, the rod blew up in my hands, yet indescribable until you have experienced it.  White knuckled, all I could do was hold on and buckle up for the ride as the chrome freight train sent my backing not clicking through the guides. Its blurry from there but some time later I tailed a beautiful wild hen. She probably won’t be the biggest fish of the season but I will remember none more clearly. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 23”, there was not a scale out of place and sunglasses were required for viewing. Best of all, she took the flying squirrel.

Although more recent trips have yielded less than stellar results, its part of the game and that fish is why we play. If I go fishless the rest of this steely season, that one grab will stick with me. It may lay dormant for some time, but odds are I’ll be crankin’ up “Immigrant Song” next September.

Cheers,

—Nick

P.S. If you are planning on coming out for steelhead season this year Darren and Jeremy have my number, and make sure to stop by and get the low down from the guys at THE FLY SHOP.

Dry Run Creek is a quarter-mile stretch of water below Norfork Dam. It receives outflow from Norfork National Fishery, so the water is oxygen-rich and full of nutrients. Not everyone is allowed to fish Dry Run; regulations dictate that only children under sixteen along with handicapped individuals are allowed to utilize this fishery, and all trout must be released immediately. Also, only flies, lures and other artificial products are allowed. Fish are not stocked in Dry Run Creek, so its entire trout population enters the creek from the Norfork Tailwater. This is a remarkable fact because of a significant waterfall that must be breached before the fish reach the best holding water – thousands of trout make it over the falls every year and Dry Run Creek is literally stacked with fish from top to bottom.

Although the fishery at Dry Run has always been an amazing resource that has served as a perfect place for kids to learn how to fly fish in a challenging but rewarding environment since the late 1980’s, access has always been tricky and the wading was considered challenging for smaller kids. Also, the creek’s habitat was lacking in terms of structure, and there used to be only a few prime pools while the rest of the stream was shallow and fast. In an effort to improve the safety and fishability of Dry Run Creek, some of fly fishing’s most creative minds collaborated on an extensive habitat improvement project. The work has recently been completed, and even though it is a totally different layout, the overall number of good spots has increased exponentially. It is also much easier to walk up and down the river than it used to be. Dry Run is much more open now and the overall depth of the creek has improved making for more holding water. This is a result of strategically placed structure.

I spent a couple of days taking some kids on Dry Run Creek a few weeks ago and we had a blast. In years past, it was difficult to keep young anglers in good water all day, but that is no longer a problem. Boulders line the entire south side of the stream, and it’s simple to walk to areas that were once virtually inaccessible. The numbers of fish is higher than it used to be, and another interesting change of note is that there is now a strong population of beautiful cutthroats in the creek. Most of these cutts are in the 12 to 16-inch range, but they have cherry-red gill plates and are eager to take a dry fly. There are also still loads of huge rainbows and browns, and the best part of the enhancement of Dry Run Creek is that more kids [and disabled folks] are going to have an easier and safer time and the amount of fun experienced by all will increase significantly.

TaneycomoTrout.com and Flys & Guides is proud to offer half-day and full-day guided trips on Dry Run Creek in northern Arkansas. This is a perfect way to introduce youngsters to the sport of fly fishing, and success is guaranteed. There is no other spot like this creek, and the memories created last a lifetime for both the anglers and their parents. It is also possible to combine a half-day on Dry Run for the kids with a half-day spent drifting the Norfork Tailwater. Please give us a call if you are interested in learning more about this incredible fishery.

It seems as though the popularity of night fishing on Lake Taneycomo has waned slightly over the last decade, but for a hardcore group of anglers, fishing by the “lights of the dam” is still a major part of their fishing lives. I will admit that there were a few years where I hardly made it out there after dark, but lately, my fire for this type of fishing has been rekindled. There is nothing quite like the feeling of when a nice trout about rips the rod out of my hands, and because so many of Taneycomo’s bigger fish feed almost exclusively at night, it always seems like there is the possibility of hooking up with anything when stripping a streamer through a deep hole where behemoths are known to reside.

The most important aspect of night fishing on all of the White River Basin tailwater trout fisheries is safety. It is imperative that anglers gain a feel of the layout of the river during daylight hours while paying close attention to areas that look like they would be likely spots for nocturnal fish to cruise. The upper sections of Taneycomo are comprised primarily of slow, deep water, so it’s easy to think that every spot is the same, but this is definitely not the case. Big trout will move into different lies at night to feed, but they will still usually be found near where they hang out during the day. Every night fishing experience is going to be different, so I like to fish several different depths of water before committing to a specific area. When the trout are aggressive and hungry, shallow runs can hold surprising numbers of fish, but if these same fish are feeling content [and lazy], it often pays to fish deep water holes. A slow retrieve often works best, but it never hurts to change things up if you are not getting the results that you are looking for.

In all honesty, there really aren’t any ‘bad’ spots when it comes to catching numbers of fish on Taneycomo, but when going after trophy trout, it helps to do some research and have access to certain tools. This has been the first year that I have used my drift boat ( at Taneycomo) for fishing at night, as it allows me to get into areas where I see the biggest fish during the day. Plus, a non-motorized vessel allows me to cover large expanses of water without spooking nice trout out of their holes. Obviously, this approach requires intimate knowledge of the river, and I am offering guide trips at night that utilize my drifter. It is quite the experience, and it gets my adrenaline pumping to fish spots where I know there are high concentrations of big rainbows and browns. As October’s spawn approaches, there will be more and more browns holding in the deep holes that I like to fish, so September will be an exciting time for the drift boat night fishing experience.

Keep in mind that cloudy conditions tend to offer up the best fishing, but again, every night is different, so it’s an exercise in futility to try and “pick” the perfect evening. On the other side of the coin, the moon shining on the water can make the fish spookier. When confronted with this situation, go to smaller flies and lighter tippet (4x or 5x). Wade cautiously as to avoid stepping into deep water and do not stray too far from your access point just in case the horn blows and the water starts to rise. Night fishing on Taneycomo is relatively safe if anglers take simple precautions and are diligently prepared.

Night fishing in the Ozarks and especially on Lake Taneycomo is as productive as anywhere, and it is not overly difficult to realize success right off the bat. It does take a little bit of time to get used to casting and wading at night, but the learning curve with respect to this type of fishing is not nearly as steep as with other methods because darkness hides a lot of flaws. All of the guides at Taneycomo Trout are experienced when it comes to fishing at night, and never hesitate to drop us a line for more information about this unique opportunity.

 
Those who depend on the White River for both recreation and to make a living are all too familiar with the huge role Mother Nature plays with respect to how the fishing will be from year to year. Normally, things run in ‘cycles’ where we might see three years of relatively dry conditions followed by 6 years of never-ending rain. There is no way to predict these meteorological cycles, and really, we often do not know exactly what type of cycle we just experienced in until it officially ends and data can be analyzed.
Cycles are deliberate in their action, but every once in awhile, the White River Basin will experience drastic and catastrophic weather events that can quickly change the landscape of the river basin permanently. The Ozarks is in an area that is prone to serious rain – ten-inches in a 24-hour period is quite common, and when we start seeing amounts double that, the Corp of Engineers gets worried. These meticulously designed “flood capture zones” (i.e. the dams and reservoirs) all have a very specific capacity. When water levels near this “breaking” point, the Corp is liable to do whatever is necessary to prevent a dam breach – especially at Table Rock Dam. With its long earthen section and dense downstream population, Table Rock is a dam that will collapse if lake water is able to topple the earthen section, effectively wiping out billions of dollars in property. The loss of life would be staggering, as well. To save face for this miscalculation in how much “free board” (excess storage) was needed to prevent a disaster during a “maximum probable flood”, the Corp of Engineers added five humongous auxiliary spillway gates that will most likely never be used in our lifetime – but the people of Branson and below can sleep just a little easier knowing that extra protection is there. This just shows how constantly-changing strategies and innovative projects must always be devised in order to try and control something as uncontrollable as water.
Because swift and devastating weather events are extremely rare, there are very few accounts available of what happens when the entire system reaches the brink. There are stories of the water covering the Highway Five Bridge in Norfork in ’81, and there were several big floods in the early nineties, but none of these events seems severe enough to etch their way into local cultural history. 2002 was the high-water year that broke a long drought, and late May rains in 2004 brought Bull Shoals up 25-feet in less than a week. Still, these storms were easily handled by the Corp, and up to this point, spillway discharges of any significance had only been utilized sparingly at Beaver and Table Rock Dams. Read more…

A month ago I had the chance to go through the latest offering of Kelly Galloup streamer patterns with a fellow streamer fanatic

 I wear my passion for streamer fishing on my sleeve, so when I had the chance to take Lee Johnston out for a few days of chucking streamers a month ago, we used the opportunity to compare our arsenals. As it turns out, Lee, like myself, is a big fan of Kelly Galloup’s streamers, and between the two of us, we must have had every new offering Kelly has devised over the last year. His innovations always serve a specific purpose, and Kelly prides himself on creating new flies that catch more fish than their previous counterparts – his art is always evolving.

I thought I would post some pictures** because a lot of these flies cannot be found in fly shops or online. Let me know if you are interested in more information, and with the recent rains we’ve had in the Ozarks, it looks like conditions will be prime for targeting huge fish with big streamers over the next month.

Although I wish I could say that Lee had a banner-day throwing all these gorgeous flies, but conditions on the Little Red were as tough as nails. At least, we enjoyed a very productive day exchanging information and experimenting – I learn the most when I’m not always getting distracted by catching fish, so in this case, a slow bite worked in our favor.

**A couple of these flies are from Orvis, but most are Kelly Galloup’s streamers.

Taneycomotrout.com

For White River Basin fly fishermen, the drought that gripped the Ozarks in the late 1990’s and early 2000’s was, in a sense, a paradox. The initial phase of this incessantly dry period was welcomed by local anglers eager for a change from the high water of the early parts of the ‘90’s. Fishing was excellent for many months after the Corp of Engineers started shutting the water down regularly during the spring of 1997. At that point, no one could foresee the crisis that would slowly develop over the next five to seven years. During its peak, this drought threatened the very fabric of the quality tailwater fisheries in the Ozarks, but it all started out with wade-fishermen rejoicing because conditions were turning in their favor for the first time in quite awhile.

From 1997 until the fall of 1999, anglers enjoyed many low-water weekends, and during the milder times of year when power demand was limited, the water would be low for weeks on end. Wading became “the norm”, and over these two years, fishermen could usually expect good fishing and manageable water most of the time. Even though lake levels were usually at or below normal levels throughout this period, the situation was not so dire that water releases were curtailed altogether – rather, everything pretty much operated normally. Power would be generated as needed, and the fisheries were never really in danger of collapse due to prolonged low water. Rains were still able to recharge the lakes during the winters, and this allowed the Corp to keep the rivers watered. Still, flooding was non-existent for quite a long time.

Towards the end of 1999, the Corp started to press their luck. Although the Ozark region was dry, there had been enough precipitation over the previous two years to keep the fisheries in good shape; but the lake levels started to freefall just a few months before the turn of the century, especially on Bull Shoals. During the mild fall and early winter season, power was generated nearly every day, and this caused the lake to drop several more feet during a time when recharge usually starts to occur. By New Years Day 2000, Bull Shoals Lake was close to ten-foot low and Norfork Lake was nearly five-feet low. These types of deficits are common around Christmastime, as winter and spring rains almost always fill the lakes back up by early spring. In fact, there were no stories floating around that told of what actually happens if the reservoirs stay significantly low well into the spring, so it appeared that such a scenario was not something taken seriously by the Corp and other water management agencies – in their minds, a drought like this was virtually impossible. Unfortunately, we were about to find out just how quickly a drought can take hold and threaten strong coldwater fisheries, and the situation would deteriorate until a few last-minute miracles saved these rivers from a total loss. Read more

By Gabe Cross

There is an old saying that laments how most of the really good guides do not stick around year after year. Some get burnt-out, while there are others who simply must see as much of the world as they can; rarely sticking it out for over a year or two in any locale. These types of guides are great to fish with, if you can ever figure out where there are at any given time.

The fly fishing guide culture of the White River Basin is unique when compared to most other popular trout fishing destinations. Because of such radical water dynamics on all five of the Ozark tailwaters, it takes quite a bit of training-time to become confident taking clients on rivers with such dynamic conditions. I would get calls while I was guiding from other guides around the country who were interested in making the Ozarks their winter guiding home. The entire area would benefit from an influx in winter business, but as things are now, there are more guides than there are prospective clients all year long.  I would usually tell these out-of-state hopefuls that most of the local guides have other jobs they do in the winter just to get by – Arkansas is not the winter-guiding Mecca some make it out to be.

Ozark trout guides primarily operate as independent entities with no affiliation with outfitters. This means that White River Basin guides must be in charge of managing every aspect of their business. Not only does this take up a lot of time; guides must also maintain an advertising budget and an effective marketing strategy. Establishing a guide service in the Ozarks takes the patience of a Saint, money to survive the hard times and a constant commitment to staying one step ahead of the competition.

I started guiding in 1999, and at that time, there were very few full-time fly fishing guides living in the Mountain Home area. Good guides were in very high demand, so eventually other anglers decided to give guiding a try to help fill the void. In the last ten years, the number of guides working the rivers has increased exponentially, and this has caused a few guys to try other lines of work – including myself. Too much competition took the fun out of it for me, and I was ready to move on, anyway.

If someone can pull it off, being a career fly fishing guide is one of the more enjoyable jobs in life, but success will never be realized without great sacrifice. The guides who are at the top in the Ozarks (and beyond) are constantly thinking of innovative ways to increase their exposure and procure customers. They will never put all their eggs in one basket when it comes to marketing – it takes a comprehensive approach to reach the entire fly fishing niche. As long as a person knows what challenges lie ahead, becoming a guide may be an option. Always keep in mind that teaching people how to fly fish is a labor of love, and no one gets into guiding for monetary gain. The passionate guides are the best guides, and they could never imagine not making a living on the water.

***Side note: I just wanted to let everyone know that I am feeling quite a bit better, and I am very much looking forward to getting back to writing full-time. Thanks to everyone who has offered their support – it means the world to me.  It looks like my problems are nothing too serious (knock on wood), and this is the wake-up call I needed regarding my health – I’m not a young man anymore. GC

By Gabe Cross

This is always one of the worst times of year to be a fly fisherman in Idaho. Spring seems to take an excessively deliberate pace with respect to warming up, and when you are privy to a nice day, the options for getting out on a river are extremely limited. Most of the state’s best stretches of trout water are closed from April first through Memorial Day Weekend. These closures do serve important conservation purposes, but the situation can seem cruel to those who just want winter to end. When the general season finally does open in late May, many rivers are still in the grips of runoff, so there can be even more time spent waiting for decent fly fishing conditions to emerge. High country fly fishing in Idaho presents a very small window of “prime” opportunity in July and August – that’s about it (of course, there are many exceptions to this in a state as immense as Idaho).

When I was a guide in the Ozarks, I loved the spring. The weather was tough to beat, and the trout on the White River and Norfork Tailwater were usually active on all water levels. I always knew that the majority of the country still had a couple of months before really good fishing was a possibility, so it was comforting to think that I may indeed be in one of the best place that I could be for the season. My last few springs on the White were characterized by unrelenting high water, and fishing was good, but I missed the dry fly opportunities that made a low-water spring so special. High water fly fishing became work, and that is one of about 500 reasons that I had no business being a guide anymore.

The anglers who call the White and Norfork their “home waters” are very lucky in the respect that good fishing is a 365-day a year possibility – if you are willing to adapt techniques. I am interested in learning about other year-round trout fisheries where the action is consistent, even in the colder months. The mild winter weather in Arkansas makes these fisheries appealing to anglers everywhere who suffer from long bouts of cabin fever. Water temperatures fluctuate very little on the White and Norfork, and this unique attribute allows for a true, four-month growing period. These trout only know what season it is by the changing amounts of daylight. The staple food sources like scuds, sow bugs, midges and sculpins are always abundant, so fish on the White and Norfork are stimulated to actively feed throughout the year. The Ozark coldwater tailwaters posses quality trout habitat and a biomass like no other place in the world (is this true?). Where else can trout lazily feed on varied food sources every day of their life?

Even though the most well known fly fishing opportunities of central and eastern Idaho are usually limited to summer and early fall, southwest Idaho has a unique climate that is often misunderstood. Boise is in an arid valley and winters are mild. This means that low-elevation rivers in the area will normally run free of ice and air temperatures are often in the upper 30’s, which can be pretty comfortable with the proper apparel. The Owyhee River, the Boise River and the South Fork of the Boise River all fish well during the winter, but the trout definitely become less active at these times. Dry fly opportunities are limited, but midges and BWOs can provide some action. Although it is nice to have a few places nearby to get a winter fishing fix, the experience in Boise is quite subdued compared to the often hot and crowded fishing of an Ozark’s winter – I would call it “slow and crowded” around here, but the situation regarding high numbers of fishermen in the Boise area cannot be compared to anything that I witnessed in the Ozarks. What a relief.

I know, this blog post does not make much sense. There will be times when I more or less use this place to think aloud. My ultimate point to all of this is that fly fishing is an effective game of give and take, and the sport will rarely let you have your cake and eat it too. Ozark fishermen are able to experience productive trout fishing all year long, but there is little in the way of varied coldwater resources in the region and constantly changing water levels will frustrate even the most patient of souls. In Idaho, cold-weather fly fishing opportunities are far more limited than in the Ozarks, but when the weather does get nice in the summer, there are literally hundreds of world-class options when it comes to choosing a fishery.  Boise may offer up the best of both worlds with the local year-round tailwaters and the city’s proximity to the central and eastern Idaho mountains. I’m still searching for that perfect residence for trout fishing. The Ozarks and Boise meet many of my personal criteria, but Boise holds a nice edge from a livability standpoint because of the mix of urban amenities and green space, the incredible fisheries, the number of great people and the geographical variety. It seems that most of the jaded anglers don’t burn out and quit in Idaho. Rather, they become reclusive and guarded. One of best things about trout fishing is that there is always a new place to wet a line when you get disgusted with your current locale, whether one moves across the county or across the country.

Taneycomotrout.com

Fly fishermen by nature tend to dwell on their successes, as there really is little point in recounting the long and boring tales of tough days spent on the water. From an ego-only perspective, it does pay to concentrate on fishing efforts that utilize flies and techniques that have proven to be effective in the past, but in the long run, it is critical to also learn from fly fishing failures. This is how we are able to figure out solutions to complex trout fishing situations. Everyone’s personality is different, but those anglers who display humility and the desire to learn as much as possible are the ones who realize the most consistent and dramatic results.

As a guide and overall steward of the region, I try to stay positive (but honest) with respect to my Internet content, but in private, I work hard at figuring out what went wrong on a particular day, and I try to adjust in order to fix the problem. Giving myself a pat on the back will not help anyone catch more fish. There are undoubtedly times in the Ozarks when fishing can get really tough, and a river-wide shutdown in the bite will leave guides grasping for answers. When any number of outside and enigmatic variables causes the fishing to shut down, it is time to get into areas where you know your fly will be right in the face of a bunch of trout. Accomplishing this can be almost impossible when flows are at or near capacity, but a proven strategy I employ when it seems like I’ve tried everything to no avail is to seek out and concentrate on the many pieces of “frog water” found on the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo.

What is frog water?

There really isn’t an exact definition of frog water, but as far as I’m concerned, this term applies to any stretch of trapped, exceedingly slow or murky water. Frog water is usually found along the banks and it will often be in the shade. Depths range from a few inches to a few feet deep in these areas, and there is usually very in the little in the way of solid structure around – the bottom will often be a mix of sand, gravel, rock and mud. Obviously, frog water is not very appealing from a fishing standpoint and perhaps lack of pressure is one reason why fish congregate in these “ugly” sections of river.

Another reason that large fish will hold in frog water is that it is very easy for them to cruise and feed in this type of zone. Cloudy water makes smaller fish feel secure, so meaty meals are often easy for big trout to procure when visibility is compromised. There is no current for fish to fight in frog water, but I doubt that many of the river’s biggest fish live exclusively up on the “froggy flats” because of the lack of cover there. Rather, this water is used as a feeding station when wind chop, shade or other light-related structure develops and creates an optimal time to gorge. The most frog water will be found when the rivers are low, but there are also plenty of places with similar characteristics when flows are light to moderate. Fishing frog water is definitely a challenge, but when almost all conventional flies and techniques have been exhausted without much success, having this option available can save the day. Trout in the Ozarks will swim significant distances to feed, but when they are not active, they will hardly move at all. Getting a fly as close as possible to a bunch of fish is key when the bite dies off in all the normally productive spots.

Approach strategies

There are many reasons that the overwhelming majority of fly anglers avoid frog water; it’s often tight, there’s no current and without structure, there is almost no way to visualize where the prime holding lies are. In reality, there are not really many holding lies in frog water, so it is important to take a cruising fish approach. This means fishing meticulously slow and keeping your fly right near the bottom.

There are pros and cons of both wading and fishing out of a boat when it comes to frog water. It can be very difficult to get into good casting position when on foot without spooking all the fish. When you get to a likely piece of water and there are fish visibly cruising, take a deep breath and observe for a few minutes from the bank. Then, preferably when a little wind chop hits the water, take a few steps off the bank to give yourself room to cast parallel to all of the trouble. If there are no casting issues behind where you are standing, make short presentations before even taking one step into the water. Fishing from the middle of the river and casting towards a froggy bank can work at times, but it takes a very thoughtful approach and lots of patience to pull it off while wading. Fishing out from the bank is a greater logistical challenge, but this method will usually produce the best results.

A drift boat allows both guides and fishermen to see fish in the frog zones because of the higher vantage point a vessel provides, but during lower water conditions, a massive, floating piece of fiberglass can scatter fish extremely quickly. Boats also allow for flexibility with respect to positioning, and a good strategy is to set up in spots where the sun is at everyone’s back. Start fishing the edges that are short of the “meat” of your frog hole, and then slowly make casts that get progressively closer to the bank. You can either drift or anchor, depending on conditions – an anchor becomes more appealing the when the water is fairly low and when the wind is up. Because the current doesn’t really push much in frog water, free-floating is only a good idea when it is very calm, or you will inadvertently drift over a lot of fish.

The techniques

Standard low-water White River Basin nymph techniques are perfect for effectively fishing frog water. A weighted fly like a scud, sow bug or midge fished under an indicator will unusually do the trick, and it is important to let the fly sit out there as long as you can possibly stand it. It does take a lot of patience to fish this way, but it the trout are cruising and feeding steadily, it will often not take long before your nymph is seen by a fish. Another proven strategy for taking trout from frog water areas is to fish streamers. Sculpin patterns where the hook rides upward are a good choice because the fly will not get hung up when working it slowly along the bottom. Think of fishing frog water as fishing a murky lake. Dry flies and emergers are also worth exploring, but nymphs and streamers fished deliberately will produce the best results day in and day out.

A few frog water areas worth exploring

There are thousands of frog water spots worth exploring on the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo. Most of these areas are going to be located adjacent to the long, deep pools, and a good way to find fishy frog water is to slowly walk the banks. On Taneycomo, there is some frog water on the opposite side of the river from the hatchery – the best stretch is from the cable down to between outlet #1 and outlet #2. Another good froggy spot is from the boat ramp upstream to the Rocking Chair Hole on the State Park side. Plenty of frog water can also be found in the Point Royale section of the river downstream to Fall Creek along both banks. Some of the best frog water in the Ozarks is located behind the islands on upper Lake Taneycomo.

The White has too many froggy areas to mention them all, but a good place to start is in Bull Shoals State Park. Fish the opposite bank from the park itself and focus on the area across from Big Spring. Taking a boat down the river in low water is the best way to find the best frog water. Fishing the froggy stuff on the Norfork can really pay off, and the bank across from the Ackerman Access upstream to McClellen’s has some wonderful frog water that holds lots of nice browns.

In no way would I suggest that anyone come to the Ozarks with the intention of hitting some frog water right off the bat. Rather, knowing how to find the spots where fish hold and feed in shallow water opens up fresh options on days when the bite is tough. It never hurts to know as many techniques as possible, and when few people are having much success, the guys with some tricks up their sleeves are the ones most likely to stay productive during the worst of times. If you find yourself fishing low water on a day when the action is nonexistent, try finding some frog water along a slow bank. Not only will your chances of hooking up improve, but you will also give yourself a real shot of catching a trophy brown.

By Gabe Cross

Summertime on eastern Oregon's prolific Owyhee River

First of all, I would never want anyone to think that I am trying to come across as an authority on fly fishing the Owyhee River located in far eastern Oregon. In fact, I am like most of the people who find this blog on the Internet in the respect that I am intensely curious regarding the history and workings of this fishery, and I want to share what I learn with those who are interested. Please treat this river and other anglers with respect if you do make the trip, and any effort made to stay away from the crowds is often well worth it.

Since there is relatively little in the way of extensive information on the brown trout fishing below Owyhee Dam, I want to help out those searching for ideas on planning a trip. I will provide links to any good Owyhee Web sites I find, and feel free to give me a call or an email of you want to talk in greater detail about the fishery – I’ll post all of my contact info below. If I don’t know an answer to a question (which is pretty likely at this point), I will do all that I can to find that information. The Owyhee is a relatively new trophy fishery, so anglers have the rare opportunity to be a part of the early historical period of a maturing river. Only a few guide services work this stretch, so unlike what is found on many trophy waters, there are very few resident experts  or “old men of the river” on the Owyhee. The newness of this brown trout explosion adds to the river’s mystique.

The picture above is a beautiful stretch of water near Owyhee Dam. Flows are in the 250cfs range in this shot, and as you can see, the river is still very shallow and wading is not overly challenging. Just take it slow because the water is not very clear – wading must be done by ‘feel’. Fishing is much easier during the higher water periods of spring and summer, and this is typically the river most people experience when they come to the Owyhee. The browns here may be big, but the off-color water makes them less spooky than their counterparts that live in shallow and clear streams like Silver Creek.

What makes the Owyhee appealing to so many types of fly anglers is that a variety of techniques will catch fish on this river. Nymphs will usually produce the most action, and the majority of aquatic life on the Owyhee is quite small. Midges, small nymphs and emergers are all good sub-surface choices. Dry fly fishing can be excellent during the late spring and summer, with diverse hatches that include caddis, PMDs, midges, callibaetis, mahogany duns and BWOs. At times, big fish can be seen slurping up and down the river, but there are some hatches that are difficult to figure out. If your perfectly matched dry flies are ignored for no real reason, try fishing a caddis or mayfly emerger in the film or as a dropper. This may make all the difference in the world. Streamer fishing is reputed to be excellent, but I have not tried it out yet. There are several small minnows that I’ve seen on the Owyhee, along with a few sculpins and lots of crayfish. I could imagine that night fishing would be incredible, but from what I understand, fishing ends a half hour or hour after dark and remains closed until just before sunup. It’s probably good that these fish get to rest at night, but what a blast it would be to strip a huge streamer through a deep pool at 2am on a cloudy night.

I am interested in learning more about the Owyhee and how it got to this point, and luckily, I am friends with several guides who can educate me. It seems strange that the browns were able to do so well when introduced, whereas only a few of the stocked rainbows would survive to grow to large sizes over the years. There are still some great, hard-fighting rainbows on the Owyhee, so some escape the voracious feeding habits of the brown trout and become apex predators. It’s nice to have another species of trout to add some variety to the experience. Obviously, there is plenty of food on this river, and the fish are almost never subject to flows that exceed 250cfs. This makes the Owyhee an “idealized brown trout incubator” where fish can feed unabashed all day long.

If you do find yourself in the Boise, Idaho area during the fall or winter, the Owyhee can fish well at these times. Long periods of cold weather may cause many of the slow pools to ice over, but this is not always an annual issue. Flows are only around 35cfs during the colder months, and such a skinny dynamic can be challenging, to say the least. Focus on the deepest water you can find, and most spots with any sort of current are loaded with fish. Summer releases often end in October, and from that point until early April, flows will be down.

It will be fun to chronicle my Owyhee (and other Idaho river) experiences on this blog, and if nothing else, it gives me more of an excuse to get out on the water and explore. If you are looking for something different, the Owyhee may be just what you need; there is nothing quite like it that I’ve found. This year, the fishing is expected to be better than it was last year, and much of this has to do with increased numbers of smaller fish being observed recently. The locals were getting nervous about the lack of juvenile browns in the Owyhee, but it looks like the river’s overall population is becoming even healthier and more diversified over time, as small fish have been more prevalent over the last two years.

My info:

Gabe Cross

gcflyfish@yahoo.com

(208) 968-3359 [home]

(870) 404-9027 [cell]

By Gabe Cross

Low and slow on the Owyhee River

It is no secret that I am completely smitten with the section of the Owyhee River located below Owyhee Dam near Boise, Idaho. This desert tailwater fishery was not on anyone’s radar until the last fifteen to twenty years when browns were first stocked to curtail rampant squawfish population growth. The browns have done exceptionally well, and there is hardly a rough fish of any kind to be found in the trout waters below the dam. Catch and release regulations have proved effective, and the Owyhee is now one of the most popular fly fishing spots in the Northwest.

Dan Bofenkamp is a local angler who is starting a guide career on the Owyhee as something enjoyable to do during his retirement. He contacted me after reading this blog, and I was invited along for a day on the Owyhee with him. Many of the guys that start guiding as a new line of work are basically weekend-warriors without extensive on-the-water experience. This is definitely not the case with Dan, as he has been avidly fly fishing the Owyhee for over twenty years. I have rarely fished with someone with so much experience, and Dan is a very capable guide who understands that having fun is the most important part of any day on the water.

My first of many nice browns

We got a bit of a late start, and by the time I bought my Oregon fishing license and got to the water, it was one o’clock. The weather was raw and windy, which helped keep angler numbers down, but it also hurt my ability to make accurate casts. During the winter, flows on the Owyhee are at 35cfs (if there is enough water in the reservoir). This low water resembles the Ozark tailwaters during similar conditions, and the river is much clearer at these times than it is when high. The majority of spots are very slow, but the fish are concentrated in every place that has some depth. Flows are expected to start increasing for the spring and summer any day, so I was very excited to finally see the Owyhee when it was down, as this will help me gain a better understanding of the river’s layout. Now that I have fished both dynamics on the Owyhee, I feel that the flows in the 250cfs are much less technical and easier to fish than the flows of the minimum release period. Still, this river is always easy to wade and a pleasure to fish on both high and low water.

There is a neat little skwalas hatch on the Owyhee this time of year. This small stonefly is definitely a desirable meal for the river’s big browns, but this year’s emergence has been quite sporadic. Still, many of the bigger fish remember this insect, so a skwala can work very well as a search pattern in the spring and throughout the year. Dan decided to go with a “Big Ugly”, which seems to be the guide terminology for any oversized dry fly. He started with a midge dropper, but he would cut that off during the periods when the fish were looking up and just fish one fly. He hooked up with a nice brown right off the bat, and I followed suit with a good one on a tungsten V-rib Midge fished below an indicator – this back and forth pattern seemed to play out throughout the afternoon.

Low water on the "O" is quite a sight

Every spot seemed to have a few active trout, and there was one period when the skwalas came off steadily for a little over an hour. I switched over at this point and promptly hooked into a 22 to 23-incher. Dan did very well during that short window, and for the most part, any work put forth in finding active fish was usually rewarded. Other bugs we saw were blue winged olives, a PMD, midges and possibly mahogany duns. We fished almost until dark, and I was worn out after such a long afternoon walking a rugged river. It was totally worth it.

All in all, yesterday was one of the more consistent days I’ve had on the Owyhee, and 85% of what was landed between us would qualify as a trophy fish. This is quite an amazing ratio. The weather was uncomfortable, and the snow at the end reminded both of us that we live in a rugged region. I look forward to fishing more with Dan in the near future, as I really enjoyed his company and approach to the sport. I will list his information below, and if you are ever in Boise and want to spend a day with a wonderful Owyhee River fly fishing guide, give him a call. Even though the Owyhee has the reputation as an easy river to catch lots of fish on, the fact is that there is a learning curve out there just like on any other fishery, and many people do not do very well their first few times out. A good guide will help you get the most out of a river on any given day which will save tons of time and aggravation.

Dan Bofenkamp with a pig of a brown

It is great that I did not sacrifice quality fly fishing when I moved to Boise from Arkansas, and the Owyhee is truly one of the most interesting and fun places that I have ever experienced. There is very little doubt that the this river is on its way to being recognized as one of the great trophy trout fisheries in the country. Luckily, there are plenty of other incredible rivers in the region, so there are only a few months of year during the spring when the Owyhee is the only game in town. Crowds can be an issue, but the scene on the Owyhee bears no resemblance to the trout madhouse often witnessed in the Ozarks

Dan Bofenkamp: Licensed and BLM Permitted Owyhee River Guide

(208) 642-7898

danbof@wwdb.org

A few more pics:

Another "typical" brown

Dan puts out a very nice lunch spread

March 29-31

I took my spring break trip to the Current this year because the tailwaters were up and almost every other river was blown out well beyond the point of safely wading.  The river was running high and a little cloudy; somewhere between 200 and 220 cfs which made for some of the best fishing I’ve had on that river in years.  During the summer months it runs low, slow, and clear, so the fishing can be difficult.  While the cloudy water undoubtedly slowed the bite, the high water gave the fish more places to hold and they were considerably less spooky. 

 I started Monday fishing the tan vat access with moderate success drifting wooly bugger and egg patterns.  For those that prefer a more active approach, swinging soft-hackles and cracklebacks worked surprisingly well, especially downstream from the access against the east bank.  The number of browns compared to rainbows really surprised me.  For the most part, you can expect to catch a large number of smaller browns, but I only brought 3 rainbows to hand and landed 20 to 25 fish, losing as many more.  The size of the fish also surprised me, with every brown being in the 12-14 inch range and the only fish smaller than that was an 8 inch rainbow downstream of Baptist Camp.  I broke for lunch after fishing the bluff hole and losing a solid brown and a big rainbow.  I hate to admit it, but I attribute losing so many fish to poor mending and leaving too much slack on the water; a problem I struggled with all week.  I returned that afternoon and fished from Baptist down to where Ashley creek meets the river.  The stretch between the access and the first bend proved to be the most productive of the river for me that week, producing not only the most numbers, but producing a 20 inch brown.  I really wasn’t expecting to hook a fish of that size in what is generally shallow and fast water, but now is closer to knee to mid-thigh depth on my 6’-3” frame.  I was very fortunate in my casting accuracy so when I noticed a lane between a fallen tree and a submerged log, I landed the first cast perfectly to get a good drift and the brown was just waiting.  I didn’t have a net and was by myself but luckily there was another angler who netted and was good enough to take a picture for me. 

 Tuesday fished almost identically to Monday, but this time my big fish was an 18 inch rainbow caught at the end of the bluff hole below tan vat.  Again, the same patterns and methods proved productive.  I took the afternoon and explored the area around Cedar Grove with poor results, though I was more interested in beer and relaxing at that point because the bright sun and wading/hiking really took it out of me.  I left with about 2 hours of daylight left and fished the stretch below Baptist again but wasn’t quite as fortunate as the day before with my casting accuracy- probably due to fatigue.  Where I was threading needles Monday, I was hitting branches and underwater structure that I was so easily able to avoid by inches just the day before. 

I fished the tan vat access down to Baptist on Wednesday morning, but the fishing was a little slower than it was the first two days.  There were also a lot more people coming out to enjoy the beautiful weather so I decided to call it a trip and head back home.  

This trip was one of the better fishing trips I’ve had in a while, if nothing else but for the weather, conditions, and the fact that being a law student leaves almost no time for fishing.  I couldn’t have asked for better weather and three days without so much as a thought of school just lifted the weight off my shoulders.  The Current River is an absolute gem that changes so drastically yet always seems familiar and willing to offer fantastic fishing. 

 Randall Barron

By Gabe Cross

It’s kind of fun to look back on my early days as a White River and Norfork Tailwater fly fishing guide. I was so eager to try everything, and I spent over 300 days on the water each of my first two years living in Arkansas. Most of those outings were not for guided trips, so I spent a ton of time learning on my own before I got really busy with work.
I moved to the Mountain Home area at the beginning of October in 1999. At the time, the region was in the grip of a terrible drought that had been building for the two previous years. By the time March came along, all the Lakes in the White River System were unusually low for spring. Water releases were few and far between over the first half of 2000, but there was a brief high-water period on the Norfork during March that really opened up my eyes.

There is no way to say for sure why Norfork Dam generated power for the entire month of March back in 2000, but perhaps it had something to do with presold power and the fact that Norfork Lake was the least low of the bunch. I was gung-ho to learn all I could about fly fishing during high water, so I spent the good part of that month learning the ropes with some friends. The general consensus amongst area anglers is that big fish are usually caught on big water, and I was more than ready to put this to the test.

My first real high-water fly fishing experiences were amazing during March of 2001, but not because of all the huge fish we caught. We primarily drifted the first mile below Norfork Dam, and 95% of the fish we caught were brook trout that averaged 14-inches in length. It seemed like every time out we would catch a few brookies in the 16 to 17-inch range, as well. The action was insane, and it was very rare to land anything but a brook trout – they were feeding voraciously. Sixty fish afternoons were common, and like with all good things fishing related, we were sure this hey-day would never end.

It took me a little while to figure out why there were so many nice brookies in the Norfork around the turn of the century, so I did a little bit of investigating. I learned that brook trout prefer the coldest water that they can find, and that is why they all tend to hang out near Norfork Dam. High water really stimulates brook trout feeding behavior, but since low water had been the norm for several years, there had been very few chances for fishermen to go after brookies during optimal feeding conditions. The population exploded after two or three stocking cycles with negligible harvest. By 2000, the river was choked with brook trout just itching to get caught. At that time, all I could think about was the bright future of this prolific southern brook trout fishery.

For the next few years, we could count on hammering brookies near Norfork Dam anytime the water was running, but both the size and quantities of fish started to drop off as the drought broke and higher flows returned. This made sense because anglers finally had the chance to fish to feeding brook trout, but what happened next was tragic. All of a sudden, the high concentrations of fish were decimated seemingly overnight. How could this happen? No one reported any sort of fish kill, so there was a mystery to be solved.

The answers came quickly when another guide overheard some chatter at one of the commercial trout docks right below Norfork Dam. Apparently, these two “sportsmen” were bragging about how easy it had been to harvest 30 to 40 brookies a day, every day! The case was closed and the cause of the downfall of the Norfork brook trout fishery was blatant poaching by local guides. Wildlife officers to this day know who these offenders are, but they seem to be unwilling or powerless to do anything about the problem.

This is just another sad tale of mismanagement of a world-class resource by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. They failed to recognize the value of this emerging brook trout fishery and they refused to act on numerous tips from those that witnessed these egregious violations. Is one man’s right to kill and eat fish greater than another man’s right to catch large fish? The bottom line is that the agencies in charge of protecting our resources have done just the opposite over the last ten years. It is sad to read about people who are thrilled to catch an 8-inch stocker brook trout just so they can say they caught a “Grand Slam” when just ten years ago brook trout were the most abundant species near the dam. These fisheries have no chance to survive far into the future until there is a massive shift in attitude. Although this battle can get disheartening, I will fight for the Norfork until the bitter end. It’s just too good of a resource for me to stand by while it is dismantled from within. What a disgusting thought that is.

By Gabe Cross

When I first moved to Arkansas to follow my dreams of becoming a full-time fly fishing guide, I found the catch and release area below Bull Shoals Dam to be quite intimidating. The water up there is made up of predominantly slow pools that are extremely shallow. Just walking along the bank will cause countless fish to scatter, and I have seen trout run from the shadow of half a Palsa indicator before it hits the water. My first few outings to this section of the river were spent catching some fish in the shoal area while convincing myself that there are no trout to be found in the expansive pools right below the dam or below the shoal. Ignorance is bliss – at least it is for a little while.

One day early in the spring of 2000, I ran into another fly fisherman while I was fishing the shoal. He had fished the Top Pool that morning (and the day before), and his results were [apparently] very impressive – especially with respect to his first day. This guy did not appear to be overly experienced, but he had fished with a guide for some of the time, so he did have a bit of coaching under his belt. He showed me a small Chuck’s Emerger that had caught most of the fish on, and immediately I felt that I needed to be swinging and stripping soft hackles. While this technique did produce a few “follows” on subsequent outings, it was not the Holy Grail for this challenging slow water that I thought it might be. Still, I was intrigued at how this method could produce so well for that one guy and not for me; all the answers would come over the next month as I learned about the benefits of wind during low water.

During my “training period” (first year) as I guide, I read anything and everything I could about the White River and Norfork Tailwater. Here and there I would come across talk of nymph fishing in slow water, and occasionally someone would mention the wind chop being very important. Since 2000 was a drought year, there was low water available pretty much all day every day, and one fateful afternoon everything came together on a slow pool below Norfork Dam. The wind chop gave the water’s surface texture, and dangling a weighted fly such as a scud below a Palsa was resulting in a nice fish on virtually every cast. That night I had an epiphany; what if I tried fishing the Top Pool at Bull Shoals Dam on a windy day? Since the water is so shallow up there, I would have to set the strike-indicator very close to the fly, but it was worth trying out.

The very next day I met a friend up by the dam, and after nailing a few in the shoal, I decided to head up top. The wind chop was sporadic, and conditions would switch from ideal to slick with the bat of an eye. Since I did not really know the best spots, I was fishing blind, but during the brief periods of perfect chop, I was able to hook and land a few big rainbows. The wind died quickly after my brief successes, and all I could think about was fishing that stretch on a really windy day.

My day came before long, and I landed over twenty fish in water that just weeks before had perplexed me to no end. The wind was critical in hiding my flaws from the fish, and the wave action on the surface gave my weighted fly a very seductive action near the bottom. Eventually, I learned where and how to fish up by the dam during low and calm conditions, but I always hope for a steady breeze to this day.

A year later in 2001, we had another low-water year, and I was able to put everything I had learned about fishing below Bull Shoals Dam to the test. I will probably never be lucky enough to experience another season of fishing like I did that year, as the size of the fish I caught coupled with the fact that I often fished in solitude made it a true once-in-a-lifetime experience. There were many great days that spring, but one in particular sticks out as being the best of the best.

The wind and the hot fishing it brings does not usually start up by Bull Shoals Dam until mid-morning, and sunny days are the absolute best for some reason. I got to the dam around 11am, and like usual, there was no one else fishing. Back then, most fly anglers did not bother with this area because there were so many easier places to go that had nice fish; only a few local guides even took the time to intimately learn this prolific stretch of water for trophy rainbows.

The conditions were spot-on perfect from the start on this day with both wind and sun, and my first drift resulted in a 20-inch, brightly-colored rainbow. For the next hour or so, I hooked and landed a trout on almost every cast. While this, in and of itself, is not that unusual, the fact that I was only hooking big fish was. In the first spot I tried, I landed eight fish, and seven were over 20-inches.

I decided to give that water a break and try another section for awhile. The action was the same over there, and I landed another five trophy fish on less than ten casts. A few of these fish were browns which really made my day. While fighting one more big fish, the horn blew, and it was time to go. I looked at my watch and realized that I had not even fished for three hours. During that time, I landed at least a dozen large trout up to 24-inches and no small ones. If fishing was always this easy, it would take the fun out of it, but there sure were bunches of banner days in 2001 that I wouldn’t mind repeating. The river has changed quite a bit since that time, and the new addition of habitat in the Top Pool and shoal has forced everyone to relearn these areas. There are still plenty of big fish in the catch and release zone below Bull Shoals Dam, and if the water is low, the wind is up and the sun is out, there is no better place to fly fish in the Ozarks.

First of all, I promise everyone that I will not just write about Idaho and Oregon fisheries on this blog. Rather, I hope to mix things up and cover topics from a variety of locales. The reason I want to touch on the Boise River that runs through the heart of Boise is because there is very little information out there regarding this fishery. Before moving to Boise, I had read a few brief pages about this river, and honestly, I was a bit disappointed in the fishing I found. When you see the river, it just looks so fishy that it must hold hoards of trout. Unfortunately, a host of problems are confronting the Boise River and if these issues remain unaddressed, the fishery will continue to drop off with each passing year. As of right now, there are some great trout in this river, but they are few and far between.

Although my time in Idaho has been relatively short, I have taken efforts to learn as much about the Boise River as I possibly can. I’ve picked brains and picked up rocks, and one thing seems clear: there is a lot of love out there for this special resource. Apparently back in the 70’s, you could catch one nice wild brown or rainbow after another within blocks of Boise State University and the Capital. The water was clean enough that you could drink it straight out of the river, and the hatches were so thick that you could hardly breathe without a mask during the evening caddis emergences.

Since the hey-day fishing on the Boise River of the 1970’s, the city has experienced tremendous growth. The water on the Boise has become an extremely valuable commodity, and scores of agencies must coordinate efforts to ensure that no drop of water is wasted. Often during times of quick expansion, natural resources get neglected, and this has clearly been the case with respect to the Boise River. Subdivisions sprouted up along the banks and now erosion is becoming a problem in spots – silting is pretty well evident up and down the entire in-town stretch. In the early 90’s, the Boise River was dealt a “death blow” when winter flows were virtually cut off, and the river has not come close to recovering yet. Wild trout fisheries as prolific as the Boise used to be take many years to develop, and now the river must conquer several difficult hurdles before it can return to glory.

If you only trout fished in the Ozarks, you would think that corn and Powerbait were a major component of every coldwater trout fishery. In reality, conservation and managing trophy trout fisheries are taken very seriously in most western states, and Idaho is especially diligent. The state utilizes catch and release regulations and slot-limits to help fish grow large and to protect threatened species. Even catch-and-keep anglers in Idaho tend to just harvest just what they need, and almost everyone here understands the value of quality fisheries. Obviously, something like a change in management strategies for parts of the Boise River in town would be a hot topic, but the majority of the river’s users would likely see the benefit of a blue-ribbon urban trout fishery, even if it meant that certain tackle restrictions were implemented.

A slot-limit type of regulation from (the) Diversion Dam to somewhere around Municipal Park/ParkCenter would be the first step in protecting an amazing stretch of trout water. Of course, regulations mean nothing without proper flows and adequate habitat. Winter flows are now in the very healthy range for trout, but spring flows often come up very quickly; this stresses out habitat and scours the leftover rainbow trout spawning beds. A gradual increase would make more sense, and it probably would not be expensive to initiate a new flow regime.

The Boise River does hold plenty of food in the form of nymphs, insects, minnows and crustaceans, and some sort of morsel can be found under virtually every rock. Summer floating is a big thing in the city of Boise, and because there are so many people on the water when it gets hot, city officials clear out most of the natural root-wads and other hazardous structure in the river. In this day and age, resource users must work together in order to ensure the best experience for everyone. There are ways to improve structure on the bottom of the river that would not be noticed by floaters. Removing natural habitat with no plans to replace it reflects lack of forethought. For every fisheries problem, there is a creative solution if one looks hard enough.

Compared to some rivers in this country, the Boise is not so bad off, but this jewel deserves to get closer to realizing its potential. Big fish are caught on this river every year which is a testament to its strength, but every resource has a breaking point. Considering the relatively small problems facing the Boise, it is worth looking into innovative ways to enhance this river and the trout fishery. As long as there are a few of us who share the vision of the Boise River as a prolific urban trophy trout fishery, there will always be hope that change could happen. I’m too new here to be able to accurately assess the chances of significant changes on the Boise River, but I would guess that it could happen, as long as there was enough public support. Check out the link below to learn more about the Boise River and the effort to protect the fishery.

Steve Zerza’s Boise River Blog: http://boiseriverwildtrout.blogspot.com/

People do not believe me when I tell them that there are literally thousands of ways in which water release scenarios can play out on any given day on White River Basin tailwater trout fisheries, and each different mode of operation at the dams affects the fishing in different ways. A perfect example occurred six or seven years ago on the Norfork during a guide trip, and what my client and I experienced was 100% unique. It was late February, and there had been some shad coming through Norfork Dam for about a month prior to our excursion. On this particular day, I guided one guy who was part of a big group – his fishing partner was ill, and boy did he miss out. If every day played out close to like this one did, I would still be guiding in Arkansas instead of typing in Idaho.

At the time of this memorable trip, I did not have a vehicle to pull my boat. For the most part, everything worked out because Charlie of Charlie’s Rainbow Resort right below Norfork Dam let me tie up at his dock for several months while I made arrangements to get an SUV. The group was staying at Charlie’s, so I got over there at 8am to meet with my client, Reggie. I knew that one unit had started up at 7am, and when I exited my car, another horn blew signaling that the second generator was ready to start. Since my boat was right there, we hopped in and started drifting right away. At first, there were a few shad on the water – we picked up a small brown on the first drift. When the heavy water hit us, millions of shad started pouring through, and Reggie and I had a good laugh about how we would have a better chance of winning the lottery than getting a take on our fly. Still, we kept drifting and enjoyed being a part of such a surreal phenomenon on a breathtaking morning.

I suppose that I thought that we would be drifting for at least several hours, but just after 9am, the water shut down completely. Releases end abruptly all the time, but rarely do they crank up both units for just an hour and then cut everything off. Even more extraordinary was how many shad poured through over such a short period of time – that had to be a tease to the fish. While the water was falling, we drifted through Gene’s Hole stripping shad patterns, and we picked up a small cutthroat and brook trout. Obviously, the fish by the dam were stuffed. After an hour of very few strikes, we docked the boat, got in my car and headed down to the Handicap/Bill Ackerman Access to fish until lunch.

The water was still up pretty high when we got to the parking lot, and I was expecting typical fishing where we start with big nymphs and worms and then work down to small midges as the water falls out. Since we had the high-water shad rig on Reggie’s rod already, I just took off the strike-indicator and the fly to start. I figured we might as well try a white streamer since all those shad came through earlier; maybe the trout would be aggressively looking for this food source. After trudging our way up to Cook’s Island, Reggie fired a cast into the fast-flowing water on the small side. The shad pattern started to fly through the water immediately, and within seconds the fly line was swinging 15 feet below us at what seemed like 100 miles per hour – time for another cast, I thought. Then, out of nowhere, a fat, 18-inch rainbow grabs the fly, and a short, tough battle ensued. We hardly gave it a thought that Reggie’s first four fish of the morning made up an “Arkansas Grand Slam” (a brook, brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout all landed on the same day), and strangely enough, the rainbow came last.

For the next two hours, Reggie hooked into a nice fish on virtually every cast. Most were browns in the 18 to 22-inch range, but we did have several encounters with bigger fish. At one point, Reggie’s arm got tired, so he wanted me to make a few casts while he took a quick break. Within minutes, I was hooked into a 25-inch male brown that gave me quite a battle, and that fish ended up being the biggest of the day. The best part of the whole experience was that the sun combined with the bright white shad pattern made it so we could see the fly in the water at all times. These fish would come out of nowhere, inhale the fly and the fight was ‘on’, and all this happened within clear view. We primarily fished the small side of the island, and the action was non-stop up until around 12:30pm.

At this point, the water and our adrenaline were dropping fast, so we decided to try some slow water on the way out; it did not matter if we caught another fish all day. I made three casts into a choppy pool, and each time, the fly was promptly smacked on the surface by an 18-inch brown. After the third fish, I handed the rod back to Reggie, and he had two ‘smacks’ in a row that he went on to land. On his third cast, he hooked up with another nice brown and said, “Gabe, this is too much.” We both laughed. After not getting a take on his next cast, we both decided to put a cap on this unbelievable morning and go have some lunch.

During that amazing session, we did not encounter any other people fishing – the boats we saw quickly passed through on the falling out water. As we left the area we had fished, the first other anglers were just arriving – I did not feel right telling them all that they missed, so we just said that it had been “good”. I was hoping that I had discovered something I could take advantage of if this situation ever duplicated itself, but nothing even came close over my next five or six years out on the water as a guide. It turned out that this day with Reggie was just a “had to be there” type of deal, and I feel blessed that I could witness such insane shad kill fishing – and on lower water, to boot.

You could see the looks of jealousy and disbelief on the faces of the other anglers in Reggie’s group upon hearing our stories, and my fellow guides were all kicking themselves for not keeping a closer eye on where I went after the water shut off. The guy who was supposed to fish with Reggie and I that morning made it out for a few hours in the afternoon, and he caught some decent fish on midges, but everything seemed anticlimactic by then. Reggie pretty much fished by himself and took streamside naps, no doubt dreaming of those countless trophy fish he hooked up with during his once-in-a-lifetime morning. I have been a part of many days that would have to be seen to be believed, but nothing tops that day with Reggie on the Norfork. No one in their right mind could have fantasized about such an outcome, and it just goes to show why there is a chance at greatness every time you fish the Norfork or White.

I must admit, after nine year of guiding fly fishing on the White River, I was completely burnt out. You know it’s bad when you would rather sit at home than take people out on the water. By the end, I did not care if I ever fished any Ozark waterways again in my life. Of course, I still love my beloved southern trout fisheries, but I needed to explore other venues if I was ever going to regain my love of the sport. Guiding can really take the fun out of fly fishing. Before moving to Boise, I did research the nearby fly fishing opportunities in Idaho and Oregon, but there were so many bigger worries I had to contend with at the time that I did not give the trout much thought.

My cousin took me on a drive my first morning in town, and I was eager to see the Boise River that runs through the heart of the city. We must have crossed the river a dozen times that day, and each spot looked unbelievably fishy. I had been in town less than a day, and already I was eager to put my nymphing skills to the test on this remarkable urban fishery. A week later, I was finally able to get a license and catch some fish – or so I thought. As it turns out, the Boise River is blessed with a rich food base, and the layout is perfect for wading during low winter flows, but there just are not a lot of holdover fish most years. After catching several whitefish, I became a bit discouraged, but I decided to try one more area. Right before dark, I managed to hook and land a gorgeous 16-inch wild rainbow in the heart of Boise. The fight of this fish coupled with the unique surroundings from which it came made that first fly fishing day in Idaho a true success. Ironically, I caught that first Boise River trout on a dead scud tied for the White River. I guess the past is never too far away from the present.

I have fished the Boise River in town a few more times since that first outing, and I am always amazed at the quality of the trout and whitefish I find within close proximity to such a large metropolitan area. The Boise is a great diversion fishery perfect for hitting after work or for a few hours in the evening, but I was itching to get into the “Blue Ribbon” waters I was starting to hear so much about. When a new fishing buddy invited me to the fish the South Fork of the Boise, I jumped at the chance. I had read many great things about this tailwater fishery where the rainbows average 17-inches and the beauty of the South fork blew me away –I was sure to tear up some fish. And I did, just none of the 25 I landed were trout; they were all big whitefish. My buddy landed a pig of a rainbow – perhaps 23-inches – so I was a bit miffed. The day was a blast, and I learned that I would need to adapt my techniques and fish different water if I was going to target trout. I have fished the South fork of the Boise River four other times since that first day, and I have done very well on both the trout and whitefish. There was one day where I found a sweet spot and landed close to 40 rainbows (and no whitefish). Many were over 16-inches, and a couple of pre-spawn fish that I caught that day were over 20-inches. I feel extremely blessed to have such a challenging and prolific wild rainbow trout fishery just over an hour from downtown Boise, my part of town.

Last April, I got an itch one day to head west of the city and fish the blossoming brown trout fishery on the Owyhee River below Owyhee Dam. This river is flat out loaded with 18 to 22-inch browns, and the habitat is absolutely perfect for this species to prosper. Brown were only introduced eight to ten years ago, so this stretch is a “work in progress”, but many of us ‘locals’ expect great things in the future as the fish population evolves and strengthens. I had quite a few expectations as I pulled into the lower Owyhee River Canyon, but I did not expect to find so much fun water to explore. The layout reminds me of a narrow Norfork and the water is slightly green tinted. Releases had just been bumped from winter flows (17cfs) to early spring flows (170cfs), so I really did not know what to expect. I started in a good looking spot, and within a few minutes I hooked and landed a solid 20-inch brown. People dog the way these Owyhee fish fight, but this guy gave me several leaps and a few strong runs. I was impressed. After I broke the ice, I explored for awhile, but could not find another honey hole right away. Then I found ‘the’ honey hole, and I proceeded to hook one big brown after another on San Juan Worms. From that point forward, I was hooked on the Owyhee, so I took every chance I could to get out there – it’s an easy drive that takes just over an hour from downtown Boise. There have been good days, bad days and great days, but nothing has yet topped that first experience. I’ve landed browns up to 23-inches, but there have been fish that ran me into my backing instantly before getting off. There are some 10 to 15-pound browns that inhabit the many slow, deep pools, and I’ve also come across a few rare rainbows that fight meaner than any I’ve encountered. The Owyhee is my new “home” river, and I will be getting out there in the next month. It’s too bad Oregon raised their out of state licenses by almost $50, but I’ll find a way.

Now that I’ve lived in Boise for just over a year, I am really looking forward to see more of the incredible scenery and fly fishing in Idaho. This may be the best trout fishing state in the Lower 48 from a wading standpoint, and there may be no better place to find seclusion. The fisheries close to Boise can be crowded, but the experience is nothing like the hoards that are encountered in the Ozarks. This is reflective of the fact that there are just so many good places to wet a line; anglers do not need to congregate in one spot. Please let me know if you would like more information on the fly fishing around Boise, and I am open to any tips that you may have. It feels great to have that spark for fly fishing again, and I look forward to staying involved in the sport for the rest of my life.

Jon Fischer who is with the Free State Fly Fishers club out of Kansas hooked into a beautiful rainbow yesterday morning fishing outlet two. Darrell, who is a local that guides for River Run Outfitters hooked this fish the day before, but lost it as he was bringing it to the net. The next day Jon was able to land it and retrieve Darrell’s fly for him. Not only that, but Darrell was there to witness the whole thing, and actually help Jon land it. I thought it was a great story and wanted to share it. Those outlets can bring trophy trout at anytime, maybe I should start fishing it more often. This female took a size #16 gray scud tied with SLF dubbing with a shell back ribbed with mono thread. Great job Jon and it couldn’t have happen to a nicer guy.

It came as a quick decision that took very little real thought; the Ozarks had become unbearable, and it was time that my wife and I left the comforts of Arkansas in search of a different life. Boise popped up as an option because I had family in the area, so when the few other unappealing choices we had disappeared, we packed up the SUV with our most cherished possessions and headed 1800 miles towards the Pacific Northwest. Boise certainly is a long way from Cotter, Arkansas with respect to both distance and culture. This separation has proved quite comforting.

Many guide services have fallen under hard times around the country, and most will rightfully lay the majority of the blame on the poor economy. In my situation, the falling off of my business was quite complex. Yes, at the very end, the economy was effecting my bottom-line, but I should have been more prepared. 2008 was just a brutal year; two record floods less than a month apart, destructive tornados and high water cycles that seemed to never end. White River Basin dams are designed to capture destructive forces and minimize their long term effects. Unfortunately, the deluge of early April, 2008 was too much for Norfork Lake to handle, and subsequent spillway releases in the 80,000 cubic feet per second range have forever changed the landscape of that river. In my opinion, these changes have had more negative than positive impacts. The perception of the Norfork as a “damaged waterway” is hard to shake, and many anglers have just grown tired of the unpredictable ways of these rivers. Fisherman numbers may not be way down as a whole, but the number of fly anglers fishing on their own or hiring a guide has dropped drastically over the last three to five years.

I think most of the confident and experienced Ozark fly fishing guides can deal with widespread economic hard times because of the accompanying increased demand for vacation “experiences” that provide lasting memories. When people want to get the most out of their limited leisure dollars, they often seek out new adventures, and the Ozarks has the image as a prolific trout fishing destination. Unfortunately, Arkansas guides have had to contend with so much more than just shrinking national bank accounts over the last three years. The popularity of the White River and Norfork Tailwater wanes significantly during long stints of high water, and now the area is mired in its third successive year of near-constant power generation. Honestly, I’m glad I left when I did at the beginning of 2009, as the excessive high water caused me to quickly burn out and lose my passion for the sport. As a good friend told me, “When you can’t get excited about trout fishing on the White River every day, it is time to take a break”.
Moving to Boise was a breath of fresh air, and I have a deep love for this city from an outdoor recreation perspective.

Unfortunately, I struggled to find meaningful employment after much effort, and this (amongst other things) taxed my marriage to the point of no return. We split around Labor Day of 2009, and I’ve had to work very hard at moving forward. I decided to stay in Boise for no other reasons than I love the fishing in Idaho and I want to see more of this beautiful place – returning to Arkansas to guide is not a viable option. By the end of this summer, the blog will be filled with my Rocky Mountain experiences, and I hope that everyone enjoys these stories of discovery.

In an effort to keep my first ‘real’ blog post from being too boring, I think it is time that I cut it off and end right here. The bottom line is that most of the hard stuff in life happens for a reason, and there is often a substantial silver-lining waiting to be discovered after the dust of uncertainty settles. I truly love Boise and the people here, even though it has taken some effort to find my place in Idaho society. It is time to be patient and observe, and then the answers will come.

I really am looking forward to sharing through this blog, and please feel free to communicate directly with me at: gcflyfish@yahoo.com . Fly fishing is now a major part of my life – whether I like it or not, and it is darn well time that I make sense of this strange path I have chosen. This blog process will provide a personal therapy of sorts, and I can think of no better remedy for a beleaguered soul than some quality time spent on a secluded Idaho trout stream followed by sharing the sights and sounds with my new, online fly fishing friends.

It is no secret that Jeremy Hunt has made a concerted effort to expand his Web site this past winter. He has diligently studied and implemented different promotional strategies while making every attempt to improve the layout and content of the site. By all indications, this “revamping” has been working better than expected, and it is refreshing to see that discriminating anglers are drawn to the large amounts of fresh content that is being offered on Taneycomotrout.com .

Let me just say that Jeremy has had some help with this extensive Web site endeavor. See, Jeremy is a very expressive guy, but he lacks the ability to write content up to contemporary Internet standards – and believe me, Jeremy is not alone. This is not to say that he didn’t try his best to produce engaging articles and clear fishing reports, but it takes a real innovator to change course when their best efforts in a particular area may indeed be counterproductive. Over the years, I have helped Jeremy with a good bit of his content, but it was not until recently (November ‘09) that we started collaborating at a professional level. It took a complete site overhaul to kick start this process, but Jeremy is the type who understand his weaknesses, and having a friend like me who is a freelance writer with past White River fly fishing and guiding experience is definitely something he has wanted to take advantage of for a long time. It took some time and certain things needed to come together, but we finally figured out a way to work together in a highly productive way.

My name is Gabe Cross, and some of you may know me from my nine years as a White River and Norfork Tailwater fly fishing guide. I loved the “easy” life of an Ozark trout bum initially, but over time, I began to feel that devoting all of my time to guiding on the White and Norfork at my relatively young age was not the best career choice for me. So I “retired” from the professional fly fishing ranks in December of ’08 and moved to Boise, Idaho in search of greener pastures. It has been a personal and professional struggle (to say the least) for me out here, but I am slowly finding my way as a professional content writer. Hopefully, I will be able to focus on writing about fly fishing, but this beggar is in no position to be choosy. In some ways, I do miss Arkansas and the guiding lifestyle, and I often wonder if I made the right decision in letting my business deteriorate to the point of no return. I will definitely go into the reasoning behind my desire to separate myself from the guiding industry in further posts – there is no doubt in my mind that I could write an entire book about that topic alone.

One thing that is nice about blogs is that the writing style that works best is very informal, so I don’t feel that I need to over-apologize for jumping back and forth so frequently like I am about to do now… Jeremy and I have been close friends for over twelve years, but this is not to say that we have always been on the best of terms. We are both stubborn and headstrong, so every now and again, things can get a bit edgy. When Jeremy moved down to Arkansas almost two years ago, we became very close again, and it was at that point that I decided that I was going to help him because he has always been a true friend to me through thick and thin. I also made the choice to try and focus on Jeremy’s many great qualities and really learn about who he is. This has helped us keep our relationship on a continual upswing.

Before I moved out West at the end of 2008, I finished up some major content for Jeremy’s site, but there was so much more that needed to be done. Please do not think that Jeremy does not have any input on the writing on his site – this could not be further from the truth. We talk daily, and I firmly believe that Jeremy is one of the few in the Ozarks who has a pure passion for all aspects of fly fishing rushing through his veins – there is nothing I could write that he doesn’t already know about. I’ve come to learn that Jeremy is smart when it comes to business, and he knows exactly what he wants out of life: the chance to earn a living in the fly fishing industry as a guide, tier, speaker and entrepreneur. Although I do work with Jeremy on all of the Web site’s content, I also have taken on the role of “Project Consultant”. This has given me the opportunity to put my nine years on the White and Norfork to good use, while also allowing Jeremy the chance to gain valuable insight from someone who wants to share their successes and failures.

Some changes to the blog

I learned long ago that to create a successful Web presence as a guide, you must stick to mainly upbeat copy and “Chamber of Commerce” style articles. Of course, Taneycomotrout.com takes serious pride in providing the most up to date and honest information out there, but a guide service site is not an appropriate place for opinionated and political content. Still, there is a time and place for everything. As a consultant in all of this, I took it upon myself to learn about blogs as marketing tools, and Jeremy kept stressing that the blog is the best spot for the edgier and one-sided writing that many of the site’s seasoned readership craves. Up to this point, we have not really utilized the blog for this purpose, but that is about to change. Of course, we will still post the informative articles and the other content that you are used to reading on the blog, but I will also be personally posting a bunch of content about a myriad of subjects. This will truly be a dynamic informational resource, and Jeremy and I are both excited to see the life of its own this project takes on.

It is now the time for me to get some things off my chest, and I think that this blog is the perfect venue for that purpose. I also want to educate anglers and share my unique experiences. Be prepared for frank opinions and offbeat musings, but I will never slander any businesses or individuals. Still, as far as I’m concerned, public entities like government conservation agencies and politicians are fair game for criticism.

I want to encourage everyone to participate in this blog process by posting comments. It is my intention to answer all fly fishing questions, and it would be great to get some lively discussions going. Please forward the link to this blog to anyone that you think would be interested. Jeremy and I are very creative guys, so there is no doubt that we will figure out how to have a lot of fun with this new format.

A few final questions

Please let us know what you think about this entire concept, and both Jeremy and I look forward to providing yet another source of fresh and interesting content for your enjoyment. Even though Boise is now where I call home, my tenure in Arkansas provided many special memories that I will cherish forever. No river system is close to perfect, but I will say that when perfect conditions and hot fishing come together, there is no finer place in the world to fly fish than the prolific tailwaters of the White River Basin.

This year’s Sow Bug Roundup wrapped up this last Saturday, and I must say that I had a really good time meeting new people while taking in all of the sights and activities. I was also in town because of guiding obligations, so I did not get to spend as much time at the show as I would have liked. Still, the entire weekend was a blast, and I cannot wait to get out on the water with many of the new acquaintances I made. Thanks to everyone who attended my streamer fishing seminar -I hope you found the program informative and interesting.

If you missed the Sow Bug Roundup this year, you should definitely try to attend next year’s event. In the fall, there is the Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave in Mountain Home. Identical to the Sow Bug Roundup in almost every way, the Conclave gives anglers another chance to get to the area and enjoy the festivities. There really is no excuse for not coming to at least one Sow Bug Roundup or Conclave in your lifetime if you are a White River Basin fly angler. Most of the area’s fly fishing “royalty” attends, so there are few better chances to gather firsthand knowledge and information. Please let me know if you interested in learning more about either the Sow Bug Roundup or the Southern Council Conclave, and I hope to see everyone at one of these upcoming shows at some point in the future.

Here’s some pictures for you to enjoy…

My name is Gabe Cross, and before moving to Boise, Idaho at the beginning of 2009, I was a full-time fly fishing guide on the White River for nine years. Jeremy and I met way back in 1998, and we became quick friends due to our shared passion for chasing after trout with flies. Although our fishing style and personalities are quite different, Jeremy and I enjoy spending time on the water together – we also spend a lot of time collaborating on his Web site. What a resource Taneycomotrout.com has become.

Jeremy and I started kicking around the idea of putting together trips to Boise at the beginning of February, and we are just now starting to really get organized. I have fished the “O” over a dozen times in the last year, and I must say that I have been fully impressed by the fun-factor of the fishery. Once you get over the fact that the water is ‘slightly’ off-color, the layout of this river is absolutely perfect for fly fishing. It just feels comfortable, and catch and release regulations are in place to help ensure that this tailwater is allowed to flourish in the future.

There are almost always other anglers on the Owyhee, but it is one of those places where there is more than enough access and room for everyone. From Owyhee Dam to where the warm springs enter the river (roughly 10 miles) is prime brown trout habitat, and a Bureau of Land Management road follows the “O” for the entire length of the popular trout fishing stretch, which makes getting to good water a breeze.

A bit of history

You may be scratching your head and wondering why you have not heard of the Owyhee before now. How can a river that boasts high concentrations of brown trout that average 19-inches be “underexposed” in this day and age? The Owyhee is actually very well known in the western US, and there can be days when the river is pretty packed. Still, I have always been able to find plenty of solitude with minimal effort, and the crowds on this river are nothing like the mayhem I witnessed in the Ozarks – thank goodness for that. Even with how good the Owyhee is, when you live in the Boise area, there are always other world-class options just short drives away. The “O” would be a true circus if it was the only game in town, but luckily, there are many other interesting fisheries that keep everyone spread out across the region.

The water that flows from the bottom of Owyhee Dam is slightly greenish in color, and this definitely makes the fish very comfortable with feeding for extended periods of time. The way that I understand it is: browns were first stocked in the O around ten years ago – before this first introduction, the Owyhee had been a very sparsely populated trophy rainbow trout fishery. Because of the slow and deep layout of this river, coupled with an abundance of protein-rich food sources, the browns in the Owyhee thrived virtually overnight and several classes of wild fish have developed.

Flows and fishing

Owyhee Dam operates in a way that is protective of the scarce water resources available in the Owyhee River Basin, so very rarely will flows get heavy due to runoff. This means that the Owyhee is fishable throughout the spring most years, while most of the other waterways in the area resemble chocolate milk. Typically, sometime during April the dam operators will raise flows to somewhere in the 200 to 300 cubic feet per second range. The river dynamics are perfect for wading at this level, and hatches can be thick throughout the spring and summer. Flows will drop down to winter levels in October, and perhaps these worryingly low minimum “releases” are one of the primary limiting factors to this fishery fully realizing its potential. I put the word releases in quotes because there is not actually any sort of release taking place during dead-low water. Instead, the Owyhee’s browns find a way to survive on flows that only exist because of leakage at the dam – roughly 17 cubic feet per second enters the river at these times. Still, with all of the deep and slow water available on the “O”, the browns seem to do fine when the river gets low.

Nymph fishing will produce the most action on the Owyhee day in and day out, but there are moments when it seems like every trout in the river is keyed in on a specific hatch. Midges are prolific, along with PMD’s and BWO’s. Terrestrials can provide some surface explosions later on in the summer. It can be difficult to figure out exactly what the fish are taking during overlapping hatches, and there are rises to emergers in the film that resemble a trout taking a bug off the surface, which only adds to the confusion. A dry-dropper rig is a good way to prospect during tricky hatches and to find fish concentrations. The browns on the Owyhee are not notoriously tough to catch, but they do see enough pressure that clean dead-drifts will result in way more hook-ups than sloppy presentations will.

The Boise trip opportunity

Jeremy and I would love for everyone who can to join us on this amazing trip to Boise. There will two days of locally guided fishing on the Owyhee, with the possibility of a guided or “on your own” day on Silver Creek (Click HERE for more info from the Taneycomotrout.com Web site). There may also be the chance to fish the Owyhee a third time or the South Fork of the Boise – it will be up to everyone to decide. What I like that we will be in a small group setting where each person can weigh in on the fishing options for the three flexible unguided days.

We are shooting for mid June for the first hosted trip, and we are also considering a second outing in September. The price will be roughly $1000 per person, based on double-occupancy. This will include 5 nights of downtown Boise lodging, group transportation, guided fly fishing on the Owyhee for two days and lunch on the non-guided days. There are plenty of cheap flights into Boise, and the last time I checked, Southwest Airlines was under $300 for a roundtrip from several Midwest cities. Just get to Boise, and all of the logistics will be taken care of from then on, and Jeremy and I will always be around to help with fly fishing issues, to answer questions, organize all activities and we look forward to hanging out and fishing with everyone. When you think about what is included in this package and the fact that there are two passionate hosts involved, it may be impossible to find another value like this anywhere else. Fun is guaranteed and this is a great chance to really learn from those who fly fish for a living.

Please check out the video that accompanies this article. The footage was taken last September and flows were around 260 cubic feet per second. We got into a honey-hole, and I managed to land one nice brown after another for nearly an hour (I’m the short angler with the smoking ‘problem’). The day had been somewhat slow up until we got into this spot, but I definitely seemed to be in the right place at the right time for the afternoon bite. I apologize for the constant smoking, and I have cut down a lot since we took this video. The other fisherman is our buddy John, and that rainbow he landed was a true pig. This species is pretty rare to catch on the Owyhee, but the ‘bows that do survive the gauntlet of hungry browns evolve into wonderful fighters and worthy opponents. Owyhee rainbows are a rare treat that adds variety to the overall fishing experience.

Let us know if you have any questions whatsoever. We will be announcing a firm date in the next few weeks, so drop us a line if you are even just a tad bit interested. This Boise and Owyhee trip offers the chance to fish a world-class river before the masses find out just how good the fishing is there. I wanted to design an experience that offers plenty of “bang for the buck”, and I don’t think you will find a better package out there for budget-conscious anglers who want to possibly fish several premiere destinations on one vacation. I absolutely love the Owyhee, and the fishing there is one of the main reasons I chose to settle down in Boise. This river is really special, and Jeremy and I would love to show you all of the best spots within an hour or two of a really interesting and thriving downtown Boise.

Gabe Cross: 208-968-3359 gcflyfish@yahoo.com

Jeremy Hunt: 417-294-0759 flytiehunt@hotmail.com

I can productively guide fly fishermen out of a drift boat on Lake Taneycomo during all water conditions, but the number of good spots available decreases exponentially once flows exceed the two-unit level. At this elevation, many once-shallow gravel bars become deep, and the main current starts moving quite fast. From a guiding perspective, higher flows mean less opportunities for my clients, and the few slack water areas that do hold fish will often be congested, as all of the others without a motorized boat will flock to the same likely spots.

Because the only boat launch on upper Taneycomo’s trophy section is located a mile below the dam, those without upstream conveyance – like drift boaters – are already missing out on over half of this section’s best water. The tailwater becomes deep and wide about a quarter-mile below Point Royal, so there are basically three islands that provide breaks in the current from the launch until the end of the best water. Even though each of these spots can offer up good fishing, the bite will rarely last for over two hours. This means that full-day guide trips involve a lot of time spent sitting around while anchored fishing to trout that have seen every fly in the book. I have decided to adjust my guiding strategy on Lake Taneycomo because the high-water drift boat experience is not an all day affair.

If I have a guide trip booked for Lake Taneycomo, and it looks like the water will likely be running below the two-unit level, I will go ahead and do a full-day trip. When the water is running high on the morning of an excursion, I will now recommend four-hour (half-day) drift boat trips. The White River and Norfork Tailwater in Arkansas are also good options, and I am always willing to head south if conditions are better for fly fishing down there.

There is a lot of red tape involved in using motorized boats on Lake Taneycomo, so I am always looking for ways to enhance the Taneycomo drift boat experience. I love the slower pace of this type of fishing, and a drift boat is the perfect way to beat the crowds during dead-low water. When flows are light to moderate, such vessels are perfect for delicately working my way down the river. Unfortunately, a drift boat loses many of its tactical advantages when flows get heavy, but they are still effective if you are able to keep moving. Beating up the same fish is not my idea of a perfect day, so by adjusting my guide strategy, the clients will get a better value and I will have an easier time performing my job during difficult conditions.

The early years of each White River Basin tailwater were characterized by experimental stockings and light angler pressure. These rivers did not get much national recognition until the 1960’s and 1970’s, and even after all the early exposure; crowds did not become a real issue until the 1990’s. Seemingly overnight, the rivers were choked with all types of anglers, and existing regulations were not adequate in terms of conservation. The trout fisheries below all five White River Basin dams are mere shells of what they used to be, and this is a real shame considering that it does not have to be this way at all.

The Major Concerns

You would think that poaching would go out of style at some point, but there is still a faction of society that thinks it is good fun to pillage resources and steal from the public stakeholders. It is hard to determine whether or not there are more poachers on the water than is past eras, but there is no doubt that the techniques of a poacher are far more deadly and refined today. The damage done by poachers is most significant in catch and release and special management areas because big trout in these sections are easy targets. Until the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission gets a grasp on just how much poaching hurts our rivers, it is likely that the actions of a few will continue to diminish resources meant to be enjoyed by all. Poachers do not always fit a stereotype – many guides will break the rules, and even a few weekend anglers will take an extra limit or two on every visit. Rule-breakers come in all shapes and sizes. Read more…

Planning a White River vacation that does not involve constantly worrying about flows is possible, but it will take some effort and sacrifice. Just remember that good things happen when anglers are able to cast to fish all day long on these rivers. It is a shame when some people get shut out because the water comes up, but this almost inevitable change in conditions can also be an opportunity for those willing to think outside the box.

Use these tips below to ensure that you get the most out of your Ozark fly fishing adventure. Your experience will be greatly enhanced if you take the time to fully understand all the options available. Those who are flexible and roll with the changes in water levels will rarely be disappointed. The White River Basin is the best place in the country to test your adaptability, and the rewards are well worth abandoning a conventional approach when necessary. This philosophy not only applies to fly fishing techniques; it also can be utilized during the logistical stages of planning your trip. Read more…

When contemplating a guided trip to the White River Basin, fishermen need to really consider water releases. Most White River and Norfork fly fishing guides are experienced at putting their clients on fish during all water flows. If you are the type who doesn’t mind waiting around for the right water conditions to emerge, a guide might be an unnecessary expense, but for those who want to fish all day long, procuring a good guide will make the difference between a stressful trip and a truly memorable one. Time is a commodity much like money and it should not be frivolously wasted. Coming to the White River Basin with intentions of wading all day long is a recipe for disappointment; these rivers are just too unpredictable to take anything for granted. Read more…

The practice of armchair-prognosticating is widespread on the Internet, and I have read that many of the Norfork Tailwater stakeholders feel that the Corp of Engineers made a mistake when they let loose 80,000 cubic feet per second of water through the flood-gates at the dam. My thoughts are that the Corp had no idea that the lakes would continue to rise – if they acted prematurely by making flood releases before they were absolutely necessary, a slew of lawsuits and complaints would have surely followed; especially if preventative actions ended up causing unnecessary damage. So, the Corp waited until they had no other choice but to “let ‘er rip” and the results were devastating in both the short and long term.

Norfork Dam’s 2008 flood-release caused excessive damage to structures and land along the river and this torrent also moved tons of gravel and sediment around. Natural high-water cycles serve the important purpose of ‘cleansing’ a river’s habitat, but in this case, there was far too much water flowing far too fast to do much of any good. Once the water settled down after the deluge, it was clear that the Norfork was forever-changed. Sections of the river that used to be slow and deep were now shallow and fast – and vice-versa. Gravel has piled up along every bend.

If the record flooding of 2008 was not enough, constant precipitation has kept the high-water cycle going for a subsequent two years. This has caused even more habitat displacement. Because there has been so little in the way of low water since the floods, low-water boat channels have filled in; navigating the Norfork is now tougher than ever if the water is down. This became painfully apparent as I got downstream of Gene’s Hole last Saturday in my drift boat. I had to get out and drag my vessel in many places where this type of effort used to not be necessary.

The far upper stretches of the Norfork still fish basically the same as they always have, but drastic changes are first noticed around the islands in the Quarry Park section. These gravel islands have been reduced in size by 50%, and the channels on both sides have become much slower. The tiny shoal where the channels converge is now a slow pool, and the river really gets deep once you get to Charlie’s Rainbow Resort. At this point, the Norfork is much like a lake with deep water adjacent to both banks. Wading spots in Gene’s Hole have been reduced significantly by high water, and the numbers of boats stacked up in this popular area clearly displayed the access issues confronting the Norfork. As we moved down towards the first major bend in the river below Gene’s Hole, there was gravel piled 6-feet high on both sides of the river. The nice shoal that used to be there is now a shallow, gravel run.

After I worked my way down to the Long Hole, I was hoping to see a break in the humanity, but the boats were stacked up there, as well. I became briefly curious about how the inexperienced boat-handlers would get back upstream if the water did not come up during the afternoon, but I had bigger concerns to worry about: finding a spot where my clients would not feel cramped. We finally found some good water around McClellen’s old boat dock. This small, family-run campground used to grant anglers access to the river from their property for a fee, but there has been no public access available since the property sold several years ago. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission must address this issue because the McClellen’s access was utilized by so many people. Those wanting to fish this part of the river must now either drag a boat down from the dam or walk upstream from the Ackerman Access – and yes, I noticed people making this dangerous trek. It never ceases to amaze me when I see the crazy things people do because they think they will catch more fish.

A major disappointment was seeing how much the spot below Gulley’s Island had changed in the middle of the catch and release area. Gravel was everywhere, and my favorite midge dry fly run was literally solid land. There are still some nice features to fish, but it is much more difficult to spread out than it used to be. Because it was getting dark by the time we got this far down, I did not get a lot of time to really look at the water above the Ackerman Access, but I could see enough to tell that it was radically different, as well.

Although I may have painted a bleak picture of the Norfork, there is still some good news to report. The river is loaded with chunky fish, and the habitat does look strong with respect to an abundance of scuds. I did not see very many big fish over the course of two days, and reports of trophy catches on the Norfork have been falling every year. In the early 2000’s, this river was one of the best big-trout fisheries in the country, and now, it is only slightly above average. Ironically, the White is currently faring better than the Norfork, and it has regained its reputation as the preeminent fishing destination in the region. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is keenly aware of this decline, but they continue to drag their feet, while epitomizing the outdated “Good old boy System”. Just last fall, the AGFC made last-second changes to a regulation proposal endorsed by their trout biologist and the general public. A costly research project confirmed that this regulation was the right way to go, as well. In classic form, several AGFC Commissioners and officers met with private business owners behind closed doors, and a new regulation was devised – all of this went on [illegally] without a whimper to the public. If the Norfork is going to recover, the agency in charge of managing this resource [to its utmost potential] needs to start looking at science along with the facts.

I’m sure that I will fish the Norfork off and on this year, but I am disappointed that this river is not the ace-in-the-hole that it once was for guides. The fishery is not poor by any stretch, but it is just a mere shell of what it used to be and that is alarming. It all comes down to habitat, flows and resource management, and on the Norfork, all three are heavily influenced by man. This scares me more than it gives me hope. Still, as long as those concerned continue to bring attention to the neglect that the Norfork continues to suffer, there is the chance that the right person will hear the cries. The Norfork is the perfect example of a fishery under political hostage. This much change if this river is ever going to reclaim its world-class distinction.

It would be simple to assume that pretty much all of the fish on the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo fight the same way –especially with respect to the rainbows. The fact of the matter is that once a trout is stocked, they must immediately adapt to prevailing flow conditions. If the water is high during induction, the fish experience a “baptism by fire” because they must immediately find a spot out of the current where they will not become prey for a resident lunker. During lower water conditions, freshly stocked trout have more time to adapt to their new surroundings. The fish that survive the first few weeks of river life are true products of their environment, and they will begin to display unique characteristics based on the stretch of river they inhabit.

For years, I have been observing the behaviors of both rainbow and brown trout, and there is definitely a difference in how fish fight from one spot to another. The areas with lighter flows, adequate in-stream structure and really good habitat are where the trout seem to be lazier overall, even though they may be bigger. If a fish is forced to fight strong current the majority of the time, they will inevitably be lean and strong. In general, the trout of the White, Norfork and Lake Taneycomo each act differently after they are hooked, and this is a direct reflection of the circumstances the fish encounters throughout their life.

The White River

Out of the three Ozark tailwaters that I frequently fish, the trout on the White are by far the strongest. Even though there is really good habitat in certain areas, every fish in the river is exposed heavy flows at some point or another. A few of the browns and rainbows that get really big are quite fat, but in general, the trout on the White River are muscular and sleek specimens. Browns and rainbows each have their own battle strategies. ‘Bows will give you everything right away, but they do not have near the stamina or brute power of a brown. Both species are capable of long runs and spectacular aerial displays.

The resident fish that live in the catch and release area below Bull Shoals Dam are both fat and strong. There is not a lot of structure in this zone, but the sheer volume of food more than makes up for this shortcoming. The trout that spend their time in the “Top Pool” (the first ¼ mile below the dam) are even stronger fighters than their counterparts below the shoal. The rainbows on the entire White tend to run straight away after feeling the hook, as opposed to running upstream or downstream. Even a 12-incher will give you a run for your money on this river.

If the water remains low for long periods of time, White River trout will lose some of their longevity with respect to how long they will fight hard, but their initial reaction is always intense. The browns up and down the river go absolutely wild when they are hooked, but after their initial fury, they dig in for the long haul. There are very few places in the world where the trout fight as hard as they do on the White.

The Norfork Tailwater

It is hard to imagine just how much diverse water can be found on the short, 4.8-mile long Norfork Tailwater, unless you get the chance to see it for yourself. If there was a video game where anglers could design their own trout stream, my version would probably resemble the Norfork during low water every time. The reason that the Norfork is so ‘perfect’ is also why the fish here tend to fight relatively weakly. There is so much food easily accessible that the trout do not have to expend much energy to feed, and there are plenty of ledges that provide hydraulic-relief for thousands of fish. The trout on the Norfork are the epitome of lazy.

I would never want to give the impression that the fish on the Norfork lack enthusiasm. Rather, they just do not have the muscle to fight for really long periods or to make frequent, dramatic runs. Of course, the trout on the Norfork are bigger, on average, than what is found on other Ozark trout fisheries, so anglers are still often treated to a battle. Do not expect really long runs here, and the browns on the Norfork really like to pull towards the bottom of the river. Because of strong current and a lack of structure, the “Top Pool” below Norfork Dam is where the strongest fish are found.

Upper Lake Taneycomo

The water directly below Table Rock Dam is flat and fairly plain. Even though there are not a lot of big rocks and submerged trees in this section, there are plenty of eddies along both banks where the trout can feed with minimal effort during high water. There is plenty of food to be found on upper Taneycomo, so the fish here get very fat in a short amount of time.

Because of the unique dynamics at play on Lake Taneycomo, the rainbows in the upper end are extremely spirited fighters. A 14-incher can take five minutes to land and an 18-incher is capable of getting into the backing on the first run. Unlike on the White, where the ‘bows tend to take off across the current, the fish on Taneycomo like to fly upstream and downstream. This adds an exciting element to an already thrilling encounter. The browns fight hard here, as well, but the energy of the rainbows is remarkable.

I would be remiss if I did not mention how important it is to fight and land every trout hooked as quickly as possible. Each time you turn a big fish successfully reduces the fight time significantly. There truly is an art to efficiently battling large trout.

Anglers who fish the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo will be treated to very strong fish with plenty of attitude, but each fishery’s trout act a little differently when they are hooked. Even though the majority of fish caught will be hatchery rainbows, the extreme conditions of these waterways quickly turns these “truck” trout into worthy adversaries –a stocker will act wild within weeks of being introduced. This can be quite the surprise for those expecting little resistance from these fish.

When most fly anglers think about fishing the White River Basin and its legendary trout fisheries, images of dredging the bottom with heavy nymphs or working a streamer along bank structure come to mind. An extremely rich habitat, coupled with a prolific forage-base, make these rivers very productive from a sub-surface standpoint, but there are still plenty of opportunities during the course of a normal year to coax big fish to the surface with a dry fly. Unlike on many Western waterways where fishermen must possess a PHD is insect-identification to match the prevailing hatches; the situations a dry fly angler will encounter in the Ozarks are quite simplistic. Over the years, the variety of insects present on the waters of the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo have increased in scope, and during low water conditions, savvy anglers can get in on dry fly fishing that rivals what is available on any other fishery in the country with respect to action and big fish opportunities.

Understanding the dynamics at play

The dams that control the river levels on the White, Norfork and Lake Taneycomo are operated in such a way that flows can increase and decrease at a moment’s notice. Most fly anglers seek out low-water conditions, as these big rivers will settle into an approachable series of quiet pools and shallow riffles when there is no power being generated. Because water levels change so frequently, these trout will hardly ever exhibit consistent feeding behavior. Anglers – especially those eager to fish dry flies – must pay close attention to fish activity, if they want to be successful. When flows are low, there is always some degree of activity on top, but it is easy to mistake a fish taking midge pupa in the surface-film for one eating an adult insect. If the trout’s mouth is easily in view during the rise, the fish is likely slurping a floating bug. When the rise resembles a toilet bowl flushing or fins are visible but the mouth is not, the fish is probably feeding in the surface-film on midge pupas and emergers.

Even though the best dry fly fishing typically occurs when the dams are quiet, there can be decent surface action during light to moderate flows. These are particularly good times to fish with terrestrial patterns like hoppers and beetles, but there will often be fish sipping away along slack-water banks and near the edges of strong riffles. The main reason that dry fly fishing has not caught on as a go-to method for Ozark tailwater trout is that nymph fishing and throwing streamers just works so well. It is hard for me to be surrounded by boiling trout without at least trying a dry, even if I’m tearing them up on scuds or Zebra Midges. Still, many people are hesitant to try dries because they have ‘heard’ that they do not work. They would be surprised at how many times a surface presentation will out-produce the heralded local nymph techniques.

Timing is everything

If Table Rock, Bull Shoals or Norfork Lakes are at or below normal (power pool) levels in late April through mid June, conditions should be prime for some good hatches to occur in certain areas. The trout on these rivers are voracious feeders that quickly recognize the presence of insects on the surface. They will key-in on any readily-available food source. Perhaps, the fish like to eat something different every once in awhile. There is no truth to the rumors that dry flies will not catch trout in the Ozarks. The best hatches will start to occur on the White and Lake Taneycomo in the beginning to middle of April, where the Norfork will not usually heat up until the early part of May. During low water, there will be steady periods of insect activity through the summer and fall, but the best of the fishing will be during the spring. Falling water, which occurs after the dams stop generating electricity, can really help get the hatches rolling – this is especially true on the Norfork. If the water shuts off between 9am and noon, I know that great dry fly conditions will emerge within two to three hours after the initial shutdown in the stretch of water from McClellen’s to the Ackerman Access. This little piece of advice is meant to help anglers recognize a desirable scenario so that they may find themselves at the right place at the right time.

Just because the best hatches of big bugs occurs during the spring, trout on the White, Norfork and Lake Taneycomo will rise to dry flies throughout the year. What makes the spring so appealing is the relatively large size of the bugs on the water and that the weather is usually quite comfortable. Insect size decreases as the season progresses. By the colder months of the year, the only bugs left hatching consistently will be tiny midges, with the occasional Blue Winged Olive or micro caddis. Fine tippet and small flies – size #18 to #24 – are often required to catch fish on dries during the winter.

The insect ‘players’

As mentioned, the hatch situations one is likely to encounter while fishing an Ozark trout fishery are not extremely complicated. These fish do not get the chance to feed on adult insects often enough to get overly selective of dry fly offerings – basically, anglers just need to try and match the size and color of their fly as closely as they possibly can to the natural insect. Rarely does everything have to be ‘perfect’ to coax a rise. If the water has been low fairly regularly, the fish will often feed on emergers and nymphs in the morning, but they will quickly change over to taking bugs off the surface once the hatch gets steady.

Midges hatch on the White, Norfork and Lake Taneycomo 365-days a year, and part of the fun of the spring is the chance to put the little, technical flies away for awhile. I only start to worry about midges later in the summer. The main players with respect to spring dry fly fishing in the Ozarks are caddis and sulphur mayflies. Craneflies are also out in significant numbers on the Norfork. Imitations can be basic. Cahill-type flies work well for the sulphurs, and standard elk hair designs are fine for caddis imitations.

Colors and sizes are relatively straightforward. Size #14, #16 and #18 will effectively cover the sulphurs on these rivers, and any sort of yellow dubbing will do the trick. The caddis present can get big – up to a size #12. Drab colors like gray and smoky olive seem to work well for matching this bug. An interesting thing to consider about these fisheries is their relatively young age. Natural rivers develop their insect base over the course of thousands of years. The White and Norfork have only been coldwater resources for just over 60 years. New hatches seem to come along quite frequently, so it does pay to be observant. Still, for springtime dry fly success in the Ozarks, a selection caddis and sulfur patterns will get the job done nine out of ten times.

River breakdown:
The White

Out of the three fisheries mentioned in this article, the White River below Bull Shoals Dam offers up the most consistent dry fly fishing of the bunch – if the water is low. But therein is the dilemma: Bull Shoals is the least likely dam to shut the water off. In order to take full advantage of limited opportunities, anglers must constantly stay abreast of current water conditions. The best dry fly fishing will occur from the Narrows down through Buffalo Shoals, and the trick is to find the areas where the water is still barely dropping, if this is at all possible. Another hot bite will occur during the hour before the water starts to rise. Popular walk-in areas to fish dries are: Round House Shoals, Wildcat Shoals and Rim Shoals, but there is more decent dry fly water on the White than most people could fish in a lifetime. It is possible to catch some big fish on the surface in the catch and release area below Bull Shoals Dam, but offerings must be kept as subtle as possible because of the skinny and pressured nature of the water up there.

The hatches will start really popping in early April, and the bugs will get bigger as you move downstream from the dam. Look for the tail-outs of riffles to provide the steadiest fishing, but the slow-water areas can turn on if a little wind chop graces the calm surface of the water. Bugs will sometimes hatch in force during high water in the spring, but the dry fly experience that most people are after is really only possible when the river is at, or very near, dead-low levels. After the heavy water releases of summer, there are some smaller caddis that can be found, especially in the sections between Cotter and the confluence with the Norfork. The fish on the White seem to be more aggressive towards dry flies than the trout on the Norfork and Lake Taneycomo. Perhaps, this is a reflection of the fact that food sources on the White are more scattered and diverse. There is never a bad time to try the surface on this river if the water is low. A small nymph dropped from a high-floating dry is an effective rig almost any time of year when steady hatches are not coming off.

Lake Taneycomo

When there is no power being generated at Table Rock Dam, the Lake Taneycomo section of the White River is characterized by long, slow and deep pools. This is not the type of water that most people consider ideal for dry fly fishing. Fishing flat water with dries does take some patience. One key to successful dry fly fishing on upper Lake Taneycomo is to pick the right depth of water to fish. Since there are trout literally everywhere on this tailwater, a good strategy is to locate shallow areas where the fish will be forced to look at a fly on the surface. There are some nice runs below the upper outlets, and dry fly fishing can be fantastic up here in the afternoons.

The hatches on upper Lake Taneycomo are very limited, as midges are the primary insect found near the dam. For this reason, small and simple flies will do the trick. I like to use a thread midge pattern in yellow, black, olive or red in sizes #20 through #24. A little bit of wind chop on the surface really helps by covering up presentation flaws, but if the water gets too turbulent, little dries often get submerged by small waves. It is a lot of fun to stalk trout along with bank with tiny dries on Lake Taneycomo, and big fish will slurp tiny midges all day long. In my opinion, since most people are not fishing with dry flies here, the bigger fish feel comfortable and safe eating something small off of the surface. Since there is no significant spring hatch period on upper Lake Taneycomo, the success of fishing on top will vary each day. I have experienced some great action with dry flies during the fall and winter by ‘skating’ a midge across “nervous” water – this can be a productive technique throughout the year.

The Norfork Tailwater

This relatively short tailwater is truly the best in the Ozarks with respect to overall fly fishing. The habitat is supersaturated with aquatic life, so the fish here grow big very quickly. Compared to the White, there are significantly more low-water days on the Norfork, which makes this river an appealing hangout for fly anglers. With respect to dry fly fishing, the Norfork offers up diverse hatches and plenty of “dream” water for drifting small to medium-size dries. Spring and summer are the best months, but there are hundreds of good spots for fishing on top any time of year, as long as the water is low.

The caddis and sulphurs typically start being recognized by the fish on the Norfork in late April. This action will often peak in mid June, right around the time that heavy water is released daily in the afternoons for power demand due to hot weather. After that generation pattern takes hold, dry fly fishing opportunities will be curtailed. Significant numbers of crane flies can be found in the middle sections of the river – from McClellen’s down to the Ackerman Access. This insect’s emergence is not a true aquatic hatch because the nymphs crawl out of the mud along the banks. It only takes a slight breeze to cause the poor-flying adults to get stranded on the water. Sulphur patterns function as a decent imitation for the very small Norfork crane flies. In order to create the proper illusion, the fly should be fished with a lot of movement to effectively imitate a crane fly that is trying to fly after getting blown onto the water.

The absolute best hatches occur on days when the water runs in the morning and then shuts down before noon. The middle zone of the river will fish very well for the last half of the falling water period, and the bite will usually continue all afternoon after the water falls out completely. In the summer, there can be a window of late-morning hatch activity, from when the fog burns off, until the water comes up. At best, anglers can expect a couple of hours of good dry fly action, but the dog-days of summer can be challenging on the Norfork. Fall is a great dry fly fishing season, as well, and BWOs, along with midges can provide some surface action on colder, cloudy days during the winter. There is always decent midge activity near the dam, but during the spring hatch season, the bigger bugs will be found from McClellens Shoal down to the Norfork’s confluence with the White. It seems as though the larger insects prefer slightly warmer water. Terrestrial fishing can be insane in September and October.

Planning a fly fishing trip to the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo specifically to fish dry flies may leave an angler disappointed due the unpredictability of these fisheries. The best way to take advantage of this special bite is to study the prevailing release trends and then hit the river if there is consistent low water at some point during the spring. If this is not possible, just come prepared to fish dry flies so that you will be ready to act when the proper conditions present themselves. Each day on these quirky rivers will offer up unique and challenging dry fly fishing, and those who observe while they fish will recognize when the timing is right to catch lots of nice fish on dries. There is nothing like that feeling of ‘knowing’ that a rise is highly likely on each cast. This type of hey-day fishing does occur when favorable conditions coincide with a little bit of luck. A low water spring in the Ozarks presents a version of dry fly fishing nirvana that will cause a euphoric rush in any dry fly enthusiast.

***Please sign up for our subscription version of the newsletter in the boxes located on every page of http://www.taneycomotrout.com, as we will be delving deeper into the dry fly fishing topic in our March edition’s “Guide Secrets” section. Over the course of the next three months, I will be releasing similar articles to the one above that feature nymph, streamer and emerger fishing on the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo. There will be exclusive follow-ups to each piece in subsequent newsletters.

It will be a blast to fish with Mikey and Brent later this year, and I am so looking forward to learning from them. No matter what happens with the water while they are here, the conditions will be easier than what they dealt with in the Gulf.

Here is some GREAT footage from their trip.

Wild Mongolia “The River Time Forgot” from Mikey Wier on Vimeo.

The River Time Forgot-Mongolia from Mikey Wier on Vimeo.

Mikey and Brent will be visiting me for a fly fishing marathon this upcoming June. We are hoping to experiment with Brent’s tiamen flies in search of huge trout on the White River and Norfork Tailwater. I just received a box from Brent today, and I am very impressed with the design elements he has incorporated. The hooks he uses are actually made for bass – finding a worthy hook can make a big difference in the number of big fish that actually get landed. These flies are heavier than anything I have ever held. You could cast one 150 feet with a spinning rod! Brent knows what he is doing when it comes to targeting big fish, and I cannot wait until I get the chance to spend time learning from a couple of guys that I really like and respect.

I will keep everyone updated regarding the status of Brent and Mikey’s Ozark trip, and I will also pass along some of the tricks that I am going to pick up along the way with respect to going after trophy fish with BIG flies during high water periods. If and when these flies become available for sale, I will post the info on my Web site and blog. There is no point in tying these patterns yourself, as Brent uses some very unconventional materials, and the head on these flies is like nothing I have ever seen. Some of you know that I have more tying stuff than some fly shops, and I don’t even have everything needed to tie these patterns.

Please let me know if you are interested in learning more about Brent’s flies or if you have questions about streamer fishing. I am always happy to help.

The shad kill on Arkansas’ White River and its tributaries is an example of man and nature colliding. Shad that reside in the relatively warm lakes behind the dams are not native to the area and weather and flow dynamics can impact their survival. Because shad are a species of fish that prefers warmer water, extremely cold temperatures during the winter can force these forage fish deep in search of more comfortable conditions. When everything comes together, millions of shad get pulled through the dam and into the rivers where the trout gorge themselves on this abundant food source. It seems like everyone who is familiar with the White River Basin trout fisheries has their own theories on why a shad kill occurs. I prefer to look at the situation in as simple of terms as possible, and my approach to fly fishing when shad are in the rivers is to pay attention to what I know to be true.

Because shad need warm water to thrive and survive, there are times when prolonged periods of cold weather will significantly cool the upper layers of the reservoir, and this drop will threaten their livelihood. Over the course of a long winter, colder water will sink towards the bottom of the lake, and this action forces the shad deep in search of temperatures that will enable them to survive. Keep in mind that shad become more lethargic with each passing day that they are exposed to cold. When the shad are forced down to the levels where water is drawn through the dam, they are not physically able to fight the current that is created during the process of power generation. Typically, the numbers of shad that get sucked into the river increases as the water flow increases. On the White, you will not normally see shad on the water when three or fewer generators are running, but I have witnessed exceptions to this. It usually takes a full one unit (or higher) level of water for the shad to get rolling on the Norfork. Although Table Rock has had issues with the lake’s shad population, anglers can expect to see some activity when two or more generators are running at the dam during the winter.

The timing of the shad kill directly relates to how cold it has been. There are people trying to figure out “magic numbers” that correspond with lake surface temperatures and predict a shad kill. This concept is intriguing, but relatively untested. The best way to know if there is a shad kill going on is to look not only at the river near the dams, but to also keep an eye on how much gull activity is taking place. If the birds are going nuts in the area where the water comes out of the dam, then there are shad coming through. If there are gulls stationed on the edges of the structure and only a few birds are flying, it is likely that shad have been coming through recently, but they are not currently passing through. Sea gulls will not stick around for long after the shad stop providing an easy meal, so the presence of these birds is telling.

If the winter has had its share of below-average temperature days, and there have been some very cold nights, a shad kill will really get going around the first or second week of February. This is just what happens on average – shad have been observed coming through the dams every month of the year. There are shad kills that occur that are not water temperature related, but those events seem to be far less common than the annual winter kill. Figuring out if shad are coming through the dams is the easy part though, as fishing this event can cause fly anglers to get a little frustrated at times. There is no way to make a trout take a fly when they are stuffed with shad, so intuitive strategies must be utilized when the bite gets tough.

A new and nutrient-rich food source entering a river can be a great thing for the fishing, but this is not always the case. If an Ozark shad kill is heavy, and shad are coming through every day, the fish get really lazy and will only feed sporadically. If you happen to be up by the dam the first day or two that the shad start coming through, you are going to have a blast throwing any sort of white streamer variation, but that hot bite is very short lived. The fishing near the dams is most consistent if there are just a few shad coming through. During a heavy kill, the trout are exposed to shad for many miles below the dams, so it pays to move downstream, if large amounts of shad are on the upper river.

Because the best way to fish a shad kill is from a boat during high water, appropriate safety measures should be taken before operating a motorized vessel on a frigid and fast-flowing river. It is important to pay attention to every detail of your surroundings during these times – take notice of whether or not there are shad on the water. Use a white strike indicator to help see if any trout are interested in something floating – if your indicator gets eaten, try a white popper. Most of the shad that end up in the river are stunned, dead or wounded, so it makes sense to dead-drift shad imitations. It is alright to impart some movement to the fly, but you don’t want to overdo it. Traditional streamer techniques that involve stripping a floating, sinking or weighted line will work at times, especially during the periods when the shad are not coming through very heavily, but dead-drifting is the go-to technique during the majority of the kill.

Another important shad kill strategy is to fish with an open mind. There are the magical times in fishing where all the big fish in a river get stupid at the same time, but for the most part, it still takes quite a bit of tact to produce trout consistently, even during the best of conditions. For some reason, trout on the White River and its tributaries will still eat “regular” high water flies during a shad kill, so do not be afraid to try a worm, egg or large nymph if a white streamer just isn’t cutting it.

It has never been my style to encourage people to plan a trip specifically around a shad kill. This is because there are too many constantly-changing variables that can significantly affect expectations. Instead, I like to keep people updated through my Web site so that they can be alerted of the best bites right when they are happening. A sensible approach is to plan a trip during one of the best months for a shad kill (February, March, early April), and then enjoy whatever the river offers. There is no way to fully predict water conditions or how the fish will react to the shad, so for the sake of staying sane, I prefer to be in a position to help my clients capitalize on the shad bite if it is happening, but I will not lose sleep worrying about what I cannot control. If the shad bite is off, it is time to get to work utilizing other flies and techniques.

Fly fishing the shad kill on the White River, Norfork Tailwater or on Lake Taneycomo can be one of those epic fly fishing experiences that most anglers only dream of being a part of. There are days when every big trout in the river is feeding aggressively – but there can also be slow times when the fish simply get sick of eating the same thing over and over again. The chance of catching a trophy fish increases whenever there are shad coming through the dams. When the weather is cold, and it seems like the fishing season couldn’t be any further away, consider checking out the shad kill on a White River Basin trout fishery. Fishing this event provides important insights into trout behavior and it is something that must be seen to be believed. Every year is different, so be sure to perform adequate research regarding prevailing conditions before committing to a trip.

Jordan and I did some more fishing up in Nor Cal. My nephew hooked us up with a friend of his (Nick) who turned out to be a great fisherman and great guy, really enjoyed fishing with him. He took us out for a half day of fishing on the Sacramento River, there in Redding . The river is a pretty wide river, but not real deep. We waded out across some shallows, where you could see big redds dug up by the salmon. There were not any salmon left on them at this time. The biggest salmon run starts around August and goes to October/November. There is a winter run but not as large as the first one. We started fishing where the trout hold and within five minutes Nick had one on, it was a real fighter, I caught it on video and then netted it for him. It was 19 inches and had a big girth. After taking some pictures we released it and got back to fishing. That ended up being the only trout that was caught, but I did hook into a huge salmon that I fought for about 20 minutes before it broke loose and swam off. It was just too much for my little 5wt. and 5x tip it. We did get some video of the fight. There was one point where the fish jumped out of the water that was quite a sight. That was pretty cool seeing this thirty pound fish come completely out of the water and then make a big splash going back in. I caught him on a pink San Juan worm. After that Nick took us down river to a place called The Little Alaska, he said that when the Salmon are in there you also get a lot of trout, so figuring that there was some salmon running we decided to give it a try. We fished it for a while with no luck; nick had to leave for work so we discussed making a trip up to Trinity River the next day. We made plans to meet at 6 a.m. and head up there; it’s about an hour drive West from Redding .

We arrived up in Douglas City and got ready in the parking lot of a little store in town. We then road with Nick to a dirt road and then went on down to the river. He showed us where he had caught fish before and we all began to fish. Nick hooked into a fish not too long after being there. I heard him yell fish on, I looked up just in time to see the fish come flying out of the water, man what a sight. I turned on the camera and began filming, what a great fighting fish it took us quite a ways down and across the river before Nick was able to beach this native 26” Steelhead. It’s amazing how strong and long lasting these fish are. Nick decided to take a break while Jordan and I went back up to get our rods then we went on down to another hole. Nick hooked into another fish, this one wasn’t as big and when he got it up by the shore it came off. I probably could have net it for him had I not been filming.

We headed down to another hole that had two seams coming together. I stood out in the middle of the river and got a good drift, the indicator went down so I set the hook, then I saw this huge beautiful Steelhead come up to the surface then my rod went slack, I was so bummed. Well rather then let it get me down, I turned to the left and set up a drift down the other seam, my indicator went down again, I set the hook but this time it felt different, it had popped out and I had lost another one. Now I was really bummed. I made a few more drifts to no avail so I reeled in and took a look at my fly. I had just switched out to a pattern similar to what Nick was using. I had a stone fly up top and a pheasant tail as the dropper. After looking at the dropper fly I noticed the hook was straightened out. I had a lot of different feelings, frustration, I was mad at myself, wondering did I set the hook too hard. Since I started using quality hooks I never had one straighten out like that. I started thinking that the flies I had bought at the Fly Shop in Redding were tied on cheap hooks, like so many shops are selling now days. I later went back to The Fly Shop and asked them what their flies are tied on, he told me they are all tied on Tiemco hooks and my response was well I must have gotten a bad one. He offered to replace it, which was nice.

Getting back to the fishing, before I even got back out into the water Nick had another one on. That ended up being the last fish caught for the day, Nick had to go to work so we went back to the car and parted ways. Jordan and I had some lunch and went down to some other areas but Jordan kept telling me he was really getting cold. I decided to call it an early day and go back to spend more time with my family. After Jordan took off his waders we found out why he was so cold, his waders had sprung a leak his pant leg was soaking wet.

I got some good footage thanks to Nick and I will add that to the site soon. I wished it had gone better with the fish I hooked, but oh well I still had a great time in some beautiful country. It definitely left me wanting more, I couldn’t spend all my time fishing because I wanted to spend time with my family, especially since I only see them once a year. We had a great trip and if you ever get a chance to go out there and fish, I’m sure you would have a great time, especially if you hook up with Nick. He sure did a great job guiding us so if you ever head out that way let me know, I’d be happy to give you Nick’s number, he will save you a lot of time and energy and he really knows some good spots to fish.

Jordan and I went to Putah Creek while visiting California for the Holidays. Jordan caught a nice 25″ Rainbow that put up a good 15 minute fight and I caught a really unique looking 20″ Rainbow, the picture really doesn’t show how amazing the color was. We had a great time and really enjoyed the beauty of the surroundings. We were below the dam of Lake Barryessa and the terrain was quite a bit different from back home, what a work out. I was following Jordan down a steep hill, I slipped and fell flat on my back, slid down the hill and took Jordan out. We are still a little sore but that won’t stop us from fishing the Trinity River while visiting my family in Redding. Stay tuned for more video footage with a followed up detailed report when I get back on the 4th of January.

Continued…1-5-2010

I’ve been on the run ever since I’ve gotten out here, seeing family and friends. I wanted to write more about the fishing we did at Putah Creek, so here it is I finally have some time to write. I hope every one had a great Christmas. The weather out here has been nice; every one out here thinks my kids are crazy, because they’re running around in shorts and tee shirts.

It’s always good to do a little research when you’re going to be fishing new water. I started out looking on you tube and saw that Putah Creek has some big fish in it. I also noticed that the fish caught there were caught around the same time that I was going to be there. Next I looked for any websites from guides in that area, not all of them will give you as much info as Jeremy does, but you should be able to get some info to add to the puzzle. My favorite is to see their pictures, so I can see what quality of fish they have on that system. There is always a learning curve when you go to new water, so if you can pick something up that will keep you going while you’re trying to find fish that always helps. We did a lot of hiking and trying different spots without any results and it was starting to frustrate Jordan, you can get really spoiled fishing our water back home and it was taking a toll on Jordan. I kept encouraging him to keep going because I knew there were big fish in there because of the pics and videos I’d seen. He just needed a little something to not lose heart and give up, as Jordan found out later and was really glad when he caught that 25” fish. I had also gone to a local fly shop to get some info from them. I found out when I shared with them about a good day for us is catching 40 to 50 fish and a great day is catching 100 they told me that a good day for them is catching 4 to 10 fish a day. I noticed they began to share more info to help me. Part of that low number is due to having to hike and crawl to new spots.

In talking with one of the locals I found out that fly fishing has gotten really popular out there as of late, and the trout waters really get hit hard. Something else I learned at the fly shop was that Putah Creek is now catch and release and barb less hooks only, they have stopped the fish planting program and are making it into a trophy trout fishery.

The creek flows through some beautiful scenery along highway 128. We parked along the highway and walked down to the water, fishing the holes that we could and then hiked back to the car to drive to the next section that looked good. The creek flows through stretches where you’ll have good fishing areas then it turns into a small lake section. There’s not a lot of fish in the creek but the ones that are in there seemed like quality fish. The terrain in the water was full of large rocks that made wading tough; you really had to watch your step.

On Christmas Eve day we went up to the Trinity River after getting reports from the Fly Shop in Redding California that the Steelhead were starting to come up. I caught one small steelhead and that was it, I think that they are still a little farther down then where we went. The Trinity River runs out of Trinity Lake which is at the base of the Trinity Alps, beautiful country. It then flows through the historic town of Lewiston and on down some 100 miles to the Pacific Ocean. One area there in Lewiston that we fished had a really unique thing going on. They made off shoots to form more little creeks that flow away from the river and then hook back up to it later. They’re specifically made to create productive spawning areas for Salmon and Steelhead. They are really putting in a lot of work to improve the fish habitat, really cool stuff. I spoke with some of the locals and they gave me some good info on where to fish so we did a lot of scouting, so next time we’ll be able to focus more on fishing those holes. They also said that there are not too many fish yet in the upper Trinity where we were fishing, it’s just getting started. I will share more about our trip to the Trinity River on my next report. If you’d like to read a good article on the Trinity Steelhead fishing you can find one in the Jan/Feb 2010 Fly Fisherman magazine.

Here’s a few pictures to check out!!

Putah Creek bridge below Berreyessa Dam

Birds eye view of Putah Creek from bridge

The rock garden

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20” Rainbow with the most unique colors

Looking down on Putah Creek

Jordan fighting the 25” Putah Creek Rainbow

Jordan with the big Hen

Kelly Galloup is an innovative fly tier who specializes in producing streamer patterns that trophy brown trout and big rainbow trout find irresistible. Many of you are probably familiar with his “Circus Peanut” streamer flies, and he has just come out with the “Peanut Envy” pattern which expands on this concept. I became keenly interested in Kelly Galloup fly patterns early last year, and I have spent a lot of time in 2009 figuring out the best ways to fish them on the White River and Norfork Tailwater in Arkansas, along with using them on Lake Taneycomo. Notice the first picture above – the trailer pattern is an excellent way to hook up with big browns when they seem to be striking short. Two flies is better than one, and any fly pattern that addresses a common angler issue so creatively will find a place in my fly box.

I went out Wednesday and fished some of my favorite creeks. I fished for about three hours and caught thirty fish. I did a lot of scouting and it seams like the fish are not holding in the areas I fished last year. In the places I did find fish, it was quite productive. I started out with a small wooly bugger and had so much success I stuck with it most of the time. I did find a spot later in the day where the fish were having a field day on a chamois worm.

Even with Table Rock down they are still running water below. We had low water for a few days but unfortunately it didn’t last long. Hopefully we will see more low water soon. Well, winter is here and if you can handle the cold it is a great time to fish. There are less people here and the DO level is higher so the fish are happy and are starting to put up a good fight.

My family and I are heading out to Northern California for the holidays. We are starting out in Sacramento and I plan on taking my son Jordan to Putah Creek, for some good tail water fishing below Lake Berryessa. I’ve seen some you tube videos that show some pretty big fish in there so hopefully we will hook a few. Then we head further north to Redding where I grew up. We will check to see if there is Steelhead running in the Trinity River, if so we will do some fishing there. I’m also looking forward to taking Jordan to the upper Sacramento River for some good trout fishing. I should have some good reports to share when we get back. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to sharing with you next year.

What I’m about to say will change the way that you think about streamer fishing, but you have to be a “streamer type of guy” to really understand it. The one thing about developing as an angler is that you have to do a little experimentation with the patterns you are learning how to fish. Then, and only then, can you start to think outside-the-box in a productive way. This has been my focus throughout 2009 and I’ll share the primary concept regarding what it really takes to get the big browns to hit in high water.

Sinking lines alone are not enough when the water on our rivers gets to rolling. This year ,I have learned that fishing articulated streamers that are unweighted , while solely relying on sink tips or fly lines with shooting heads in different weight grains for my weight, that the fly will not get down deeper than four feet ( and that’s with a 450 grain head on a 9-weight line). Current plays a huge roll with respect to prohibiting fly lines from sinking at the rate they were designed to. For example: if the manufacturer says a line should sink at a 7.0 inches-per-second, that refers to the sink rate in very little to no current. If the current is strong, this line is really only sinking at 1.0 inches per second. Considering that whole trick here is getting the fly down in the strike zone quicker, it is time to rethink how we approach getting a fly down to where it needs to be. Think about it; if you make a cast to the bank and start to strip line, by the time your fly is where it should be depth-wise, it is already off the bank and away from where the fish are holding. It makes complete sense to fish these types of rigs if the water is less than four feet deep, but it gets any deeper, we need to come up with a different strategy for getting the fly into the strike zone faster. It is critical that every strip of line moves the fly into places where the fish should be. So what do we do? You guessed it -weight the fly as well. It has to be this way in order to be effective. This is all I’m going to say right now -the rest will have to wait for the river. Keep checking in with this page as I will keep everyone posted on the results of my experiments

I’ll start by saying a few things about Taneycomo. We have lower water levels. Also, we have better D.O. which means the trout are thriving. Other than that I haven’t been fishing it because of the other areas I’ve been fishing. From what I’m hearing the fishing has been good.

Roaring River

I’ll start with this since this is the most recent fishing I’ve done. Followed up with fishing the Little Red over the holiday weekend, which were both a blast. I can say…I had a great Thanksgiving, being a trout bum.

Well, Roaring River didn’t let me down once again. I had to get my fix on big fish since the Little Red didn’t produce that for me. I worked my a** off dedicating myself to throwing streamers the whole time, big brown hunting, but I guess that gives me an excuse to go back.

We didn’t hook our big fish until about the third hour and then we weren’t even able to land this one. What usually works for me didn’t this time. Egg patterns weren’t the staple. I guess they were a little educated over the weekend. So what did I have to do, use the thinking cap. The first one we hooked was actually one of the bigger ones of the day. I would say it would go 15 pounds. I was a little bummed out after I lost it. It was such a tough bite to get the big ones to look at anything. I honestly thought they were just shut down at that particular time. They really didn’t start going until about 1pm. But when they did it was on. What we were doing was throwing a sink tip (3.9 ips) running sculpin patterns through fast water. When I saw that first big fish take this fly I knew I was on to something. The way he approached it was truly amazing and something I never saw before. When he took this fly he was right under the surface of the water. The take was beautiful and I wish I would have got it on camera. Because I have a site I’m always thinking footage anytime I can get it, but you need someone who knows a little bit about filming, you know the eye thing. Darren and I were both anxious to wet a line so we would venture off from each other. And that’s what happened this time. When I was playing the fish I was yelling for Darren, but he couldn’t hear me so while I was babying the fish trying to keep enough tension the fish beat me. So where I’m going with this story is never do what I did, just land it. Because these fish don’t fight hard and it only takes a few minutes before they give up so you need to bring them in fast. You’ll know when they are ready and this fish let me know that, but I tried to wait a few moments longer. Well that’s all it takes for them to get off. He made one turn at a different angle and that’s all she wrote.

I’m blessed to be able to do this everyday and there’s always tomorrow is what I say. I though because of how the morning went it was maybe over for big fish. Never give up, keep plugging away. Usually I’m out of the park by 2pm because the morning bite has been hot for me and there’s no reason to stay longer. Once you get a few you’re pretty much done for the day. That is what’s so great about these parks verses tailwaters. You have ample opportunities to hook several big fish in one day. Yes, some of you would say that’s not “true” fishing, but until you’re there I wouldn’t knock it. It’s really fun, especially for hooking some big rainbows.

When we finally agreed to stick together we really got serious about figuring out how to hook these big fish. Once we both threw on sculpins we started catching a bunch of fish. They were definitely in the mood for chasing, we managed to hook five big fish in the course of the day. We caught three on the sculpin and the others came on a “sham WOW” shammy worm the last thirty minutes of the day. It’s all about calling the right shots too. Darren and I were downstream looking over the bridge seeing if we could spot any big fish. This spot is NO GOOD anymore. It’s filled in big time from the high flooding they have received over the course of two years. I made a split decision to go back up top and stay fishing the pool until the horn blew. I hooked mine first and shortly after Darren hooked his. He lost his and felt what I felt earlier that morning. All in all another great day at Roaring River. Enjoy the footage. We work hard trying to help those who live threw us until the next time you can get on the river.

Little Red River

Wow, this was the second time I’ve fished this river system and really the only one I don’t know that well. So my goal this year is to spend more time at this river. Jamie Rouse who is an Orvis endorsed guide was telling me it was good to chunk some streamers. So after us chatting several times on the phone I made the decision to take the family and my father on a little mini vacation. It was good for Summer since we are due to have a new baby boy come into the family in five weeks. You’ll never guess what his name is, Fischer. We got there late Friday afternoon, but I was able to fish the last hour before sunset. We were staying at Lobo Landing, which is a resort I would highly recommend you go if you plan on fishing the Little Red. Great people with really nice accommodations. They also have a boat dock with several boat rentals. Also, right next to the public boat ramp just up from one of the best shoals on the river, Mossy Shoals. Very convenient if you ask me. In that one hour I was able to hook two browns and four rainbows. Not bad fishing just under one unit never fishing that type of water before. The goal was to get that big one. Fishing streamers for three days I just knew I had just as good a chance as anybody.

The next morning we woke up to fog so my chances were good. It turned out to be a sunny day and to be honest the browns weren’t having it. Same as the White, you need fog, rain and clouds to get that big one to bite most of the time. I caught a few down in Mossy Shoals, but we did better fishing indicator rigs nymphing on the bottom. We picked up several rainbows, mostly small so I didn’t take many photos. As some of you know browns are what get my attention.

We had one more day to fish, really only the morning. My goal here was to go to Cow Shoals. This is where a lot of big fish hold this time of year. We put in at Winkley at swinging bridge and motored up about four miles to Cow Shoals. I caught more small browns, but all different than what’s here on Taney and the White. These browns have way more red spots with only a few black spots and more spread out. A lot more wild browns here on the Little Red than any other tailwater fishery we have in the Ozarks, from what I could tell. Also what makes this river a streamer river is a combination of trees in the water followed by dingy greenish water year round. We didn’t catch anything big the whole time, but what a vacation and to see something different made everything worth while. Go check it out and check out Lobo Landing, Chris is the owner and he also guides for Jamie Rouse.

I fished the Meramec in and out of the trout park on the day before and after Thanksgiving. The water in the park was high and cloudy but outside the spring branch it was high and clear which made for some of the best fishing I’ve ever had on that river. I have to say that I fell in love with the river all over again.

WEDNESDAY

I got to the park at about 11:30 and was surprised to see that it was as cloudy as it was. There was probably about 8 inches of visibility and a lot of current so I knew I was going to have to go big and bright. I started fishing a heavily weigthed size 8 stonefly nymph that really will get down in a hurry and with the fast current that was a must. I dropped a red San Juan worm about a foot below that with no success. From watching the half-dozen or so other people in the park I could tell it was a pretty tough day of fishing. I saw one guy spin fishing with white jigs doing pretty well (pretty well being a relative term). After a few hours, I put on the miracle fly and started seeing some results. The first fish came just above the suspension bridge and was about 14 inches of pure fight. The next cast I connected with a rainbow that was just a hair over 20″ and about 4-5 pounds. She fought pretty hard at first but tired out after maybe thirty seconds and just shook her head until I got her in. I managed to get a quick picture before my camera died then started the reviving process which took at least 15 minutes, maybe a full 30. I’m pretty sure she was a hatchery fish stocked in the river for the catch and release season that was on the downhill slide because the fight was not long and she wasn’t out of the water for more than 30 seconds at most.

After that, I wandered down past the bridge into the river and all I can say is ‘wow’. I kept fishing the miracle fly and caught 2 dozen fish, all rainbows in about 2 and a half hours, including a rocket of a 16 incher that got into the current and took me almost to the backing, wrapped me around a deadfall and somehow managed to end up in my hands. I saw one other person fishing the stretch I was on and he left after less than 30 minutes so I guess it really had a lot to do with the pattern. As a matter of fact, I only caught 2 fish both days on a fly other than the miracle.

I learned a lot that day about where to fish because as I was walking downstream through one stretch, pretty much being too lazy to reel in and only wanting to fish the riffles, I started getting hit. When I actually looked at where I was fishing, it made sense that I was catching. Not paying close attention to the water almost cost me about a half-hour of the best fishing I’ve had on that river. You can be I won’t make that mistake again.

FRIDAY

I stayed away from the park on Friday, but I fished the river which was still high and clear. I kept with the miracle fly and caught consistently all day. The current was still a bit stronger than I’m used to but it didn’t take long to work it out. In all, I caught around 30 trout, none over 15 inches but all vibrantly colored and hard fighters. The real trick was to stay out of the water when possible and fish far away. With a good drift, you can set the hook far away.

I also talked to a trapper that evening who told me something that kind of bothered me. The otter population has exploded. I guess that’s good for them but he said the difference from even five years ago is pretty staggering. With the increase in otters, look for a significant decrease in gamefish and suckers.

In all, it was a great trip and I’m glad I decided to bring the flyrod down for the Holiday. If you’re going to be through the Cuba/St. James/Rolla area in the near future, I would suggest making a stop here.

Randall

I was able to go out and do a little night fishing a few nights ago. The reason why I wanted to go was that same evening I went out scouting the river close to dark to see if there were a few browns still hanging around after the run. Sure enough, I saw a few that were pushing 23-25 inches. That really got my attention so I went out with Darren around 7pm. To make a long story short, yes, the bite was good, but to be honest we caught more bluegill and goggle eye than we could shake a stick at. It seemed like we had to go past outlet two before we started hooking rainbows. All the rainbows we caught were fairly small, which was weird as well. We caught a lot, but nothing over 15 inches. We heard a few big splashes, but they didn’t want nothing to do with us. The good thing is we are starting to see low water so there will be many more chance to see if we have any browns up top. The only brown caught that night Darren was able to hook it.

If you plan on fishing Taney I think your chances are good that you should start seeing low water. See you on the river.

Recap 26 2009

Went out yesterday to enjoy this low water that we’ve been wanting for quite sometime. I saw a few people struggling, but saw some hooking up. The good news is Table Rock is down to pool and we should see low water a lot more. As some of you know the rumor is Bull Shoals and Greers Ferry will be dumping water around the clock starting December 1st. That means the only wadable tailwaters will be Beaver and Taneycomo. And it should take months to get back down to pool, which is a bummer for the White because I love fishing that tailwater in the winter. I’m anxious though to see what Taney has to offer in the way of numbers and big fish.

One thing I did notice about the fishing on Taneycomo is the fish are chasing and fighting extremely hard. They are warm to the touch and the water temperature is 58 degrees. I would think the fish wouldn’t be as active in this warmer water, but they are. I’ll be honest, I knew today was going to be a little different as far as what flies to use. I started fishing on the bottom, but noticed because the clarity of the water being so dingy and the wind was blowing fiercely it was going to be a wooly day. The honest part is I haven’t fished a wooly during the day in probably seven years, but I knew in the wind chop they would go crazy for beadhead woolies in olive, size 10. That’s pretty much what we threw all day and caught fish after fish. We were probably averaging 15-20 fish in an hour. They were all small just like at night. Don’t ask me why, but I’m starting to wonder where are all those 20-22 inch rainbows this fishery is all about. Big rainbows and a few browns was something I thought would be there because of all the high water we are having. And because we can’t see in the water I can’t say for sure. I know the other day I saw some big browns holding up top, but I haven’t heard of anyone catching them, and haven’t seen much activity in outlet 2. It seems like outlet one is the “hot spot.“ I don’t know though because I don’t fish it. That’s where you can get into a fight, hehe.

I’ll tell you a funny story about the outlet. You tell me if it’s worth it. My friend Darren was fishing it about a month ago and the water was high so he was limited to where he could fish. To make a long story short, there was a guy in there who I guess had a nice fish on. The fish takes off and crosses over Darren’s line. Another guy came down and cut his fly line about twenty feet up, basically ruined his fly line. To me that was a little too much. It’s only a fish and the fact that he caught it in the outlet where everyone should understands what “crowding out” means he should’ve been a little more understanding. I mean it’s the outlet. So to be that serious about a fish in the outlet tells me a lot about his character. We should have more respect for each other and have the mind set that these things are going to happen. My answer to this is, DON”T FISH THEM or you will run into people like this. I know if it was me and he cut my fly line, I would’ve done the same thing right back. Maybe that’s why I don’t fish them.

Scud’s & Sculpins

This river is thriving with scuds and sculpins right now. This is exactly what happened to the White River after they had heavy generation for long periods of time a few years back. I was walking along the banks and islands yesterday where water gets trapped and you could see thousands of scuds swimming freely. Unfortunately not so much for the sculpins, but they were dead all over the islands that were exposed once the water dropped out. I would say get your sculpins and scuds out because they are seeing a bunch of them in the water right now. Stick to grays and throw some UV in with your dubbing as well, especially on sunny days. I actually have a one of a kind special blend dubbing that you would want to try out. Email me if you do and I’ll tie you up a few deadly scuds for Taneycomo the next time you’re down this way. What I’ll also do is tie some put them in a fly box and sell it to whomever is wanting to try this pattern. I should have it done sometime in the next week or so. They come in olive, tan, and gray. Picture coming soon.

Taneycomo Habitat Improvements

A follow up about the habitat improvements. Here’s a link to Phil’s forum where we are discussing what needs to be done. Please add your comments if you can think of anything that would benefit Taneycomo.

Going to fish the Little Red over the weekend. I’ll keep you posted. It’s going to be a streamer weekend only. Hopefully we’ll hook some big fish. I’ll keep my fingers crossed since I’ve only fished it a few times, but never with streamers. I guess the cfs (2,000-3,200) they have right now is great for streamers.

Second weekend of catch & release season and my game plan was to get there on Friday for two reasons; one was to beat the crowds and two was to get a fresh start on the fish since they haven’t had pressure for four days. Well, that didn’t turn out to be what I expected. The crowds were there and the fish took notice to that real fast, which made it harder to catch them. See, the key is to fish and move if you’re after big fish. Staying in one area will eliminate your chance at hooking several big fish throughout the pools. What I try to do is look for big fish and fish to them, without really changing up my fly pattern as much. Stick to what YOU know works instead of changing out and trying for that fish over and over. If you can’t get him to bite or to look then he’s probably not feeding at that particular time and it is time to move on. That is why its so important to be the first one fishing to these fish. Once they’ve had a little pressure they get harder to trick. That’s when you have to change up flies and then concentrate on each fish giving it your all. So after I’m done moving around looking for big fish and only giving each one about five minutes I then go back and spend the time figuring it out.

The neat thing about this park is you can trick big fish on just about anything, whether you throw streamers, fish on the bottom, or throw dries, it’s all there for you. I like to call this trout park Dry Run Creek for grown-ups. It’s pretty exciting and will have you coming back for more.

Now something I learned from talking to Tim, owner of Tim’s Fly Shop was how each year is different from the next. In the previous years that I’ve fished it, to me it was better as some of you read in my last couple of reports. That was bothering me and really didn’t know why. I found out that rainfall effects this river as well. Not because the fish get swept away, but because of heavy rains. Because of heavy rain earlier this year, about three weeks before catch & release was open, this gave the fisherman a chance to catch bigger fish and keep them. That’s why they are not a lot of 4-5 pound fish. Tim was telling me that the rain drove out the big fish and started the spawn a little early. So it really all boils down to getting rain after the catch & release season starts or they’ll get caught and taken out. This year they stocked 500 brut stockers. With saying this, you still have a shot at hooking some monsters. Like I said before, there are definitely more rainbows in the 10-14 pound range this year. Not bad considering it will be another high water year for some of you. This park gives you a chance to still fish, and hook big fish at that.

We managed to get a little footage and film some other guys hooking some nice fish as well. We hooked a lot more than we landed this time, but we still have a lot of time left. I’m looking forward to each time I go I know that. Until next time, tight lines and good luck fishing.

Since we’re talking about crawdads lately I’ll go ahead and share what I’ve been doing on the vise. When pine squirrel got big in the tying world everyone was coming up with their own special flies with this stuff. One stuck out over all than the rest, but to be honest I forgot all about it until recently. I won’t take claim to this pattern because I didn’t invent it. The two brothers at Wapsi did when Joe (who does all the dying) was experimenting with it. I think Eric (who is over all dubbings) started to tweak it and then it became the Pine Craw. Very easy pattern and very soft feeling to the fish, which you need both when it comes to smallmouth. What I also like about this pattern, and what makes it what it is to the fisherman (hehe) is gluing another side to make the pinchers look better. You don’t need it, but it sure makes the pattern. If you notice in the picture I use another color to give it some flare. I think Eric came out with this step after the pattern got develop.

What can I say…it’s back! We will have catch-n-release until the second week of February. I’m looking forward to the upcoming months. Also, to see what else they stock. If they don’t then I will say, this years stocking is a bit weak when it comes to big brut stockers. I did see some hogs, but not as many as I have in the previous years. The ones that are big, are BIG. Most of them were pushing between 7-15 pounds, all rainbows with only one brown in the 23-inch size from what I saw. The water looks great and since they did all the changes with each pool being rearranged it makes for better flows. Most of all the pools have quick current speed, but it does create more eddy’s where these big fish will hold. It’s almost like you’re drifting backwards, but the drift is going right at them. I waited until Sunday before I went and you could tell that these fish were fished hard and they were locked up for the most part. I think the days to go would be on Friday and Monday, especially Friday. I was able to hook one so it made the trip worth while.

On another note, We got some rain so the creeks should fill back up. Perfect timing if you want to ask me. I plan on doing some more fishing at Bull Creek, but I will have to wait a few days so it can settle and the water clarity gets a little better for the fish to see. In the meantime I’m tying some crawdad patterns and trying to get these sent out to all the people who have a fly pattern coming to them from filling out the guestbook. I don’t know why, but it’s been crawdad week. Here lately I’ve been spotting crawdad in the water so it’s good in the sense that the site needed it. Until next time….tight lines!