Weather has been hot, especially for this time of the year, out there the past few days.  Upper 90s through the weekend, upper 80s Monday, mid 80s Tuesday.  Then, we go into the mid to upper 70s through Saturday with slight chances for rain early in the week.  By next weekend and into the following week, it will be low to mid 70s and lots of sunshine.  Sounds like a great way to start Fall.

Water generation the past three days plus today has been non-stop all day.  However, for the early part of the day, usually until noon or even 1:00 p.m., generation has been low (30-50 MWH).  At this level, there are wading opportunities up by the Hatchery or down below the boat ramp.

Just want to remind everyone again about the low dissolved oxygen levels.  Try not to over-play your fish to bring it in and make certain it is well revived before releasing into the water.  Keep it in you net in the water as much as you can.

Mike – 9/10/17

Okay, now to get caught up.  James on the water a week ago this past Sunday with Mike from Kansas.  This was one of those slower than normal days, but Mike did bring in a beautiful 18 inch rainbow on a ruby 2 midge.  He also caught several on the tiger tail.

A week ago this past Tuesday, Gina took a couple of the ladies from the RRWFF Club out for the day.  Good day for them Tuesday on the ruby 2, P&P, lightning bug and Tiger Tail.

Valley – 9/12/17

Fun day and belated birthday celebration for Valley, AND the fish cooperated to help her celebrate.  Wednesday, Valley had to go back to the real world…..work.  So, it was just Paula who fish with Gina.  Wednesday was tough.  Caught fish mainly on the ruby 2.  Carolyn had Jerry on the water that day.  His wife Margaret rode along to enjoy the day and it was a beautiful day.  It was pretty much a ruby 2 day for us too.

Spanky – 9/13/17

Wednesday, Stan’s oldest (in years fishing with him) fisher, Doc, and his friend Terry, were on the water with him for half a day.  Another slow bite day, but they managed to have a fair day…..again, on the ruby 2.  These two always have a fun day no matter what they are doing.

Mitch from Indiana, spent half a day on the water with James last Thursday.   This was Mitch’s first experience catching fish on a fly rod.  Pretty good start using the ruby 2.

Mitch – 9/14/17

Aaron and his father, Joe, spent last Friday morning fishing with Dana.  Dana had them fishing a beaded red San Juan worm, orange egg pattern and the ruby 2 midge.  A group of

Jeff – 9/15/17

guys from the Ozark Fly Fishing Club out of St. Louis, MO. were in town last weekend and a few of them fish with us on Friday and Saturday.  Friday, James had Jeff and Alan.  Pretty good day for them on a lightning bug, ruby 2 and peach egg pattern.  Carolyn had Edward and John out that day.  They had a good day on the ruby 2 midge under a lightning bug.  Edward caught his best fish that day stripping a holographic green crackleback.

John – 9/15/17

Saturday was another good day for everyone.  This day, Mel and Alan were on the water with James and they fished pretty much the same

Alan – 9/16/17

patterns.   Edward was

Mel – 9/16/17

on the water again with Carolyn and this day Jim filled the second spot in the boat.  Another ruby 2 under the lightning bug.  This was Edward’s day as he landed a nice 20-1/2″ rainbow.

Sunday, John and Bob

Edward – 9/16/17 – 20-1/2″ rainbow

spent the day on the water with Carolyn.  Worked hard for fish but managed for have a respectable

John – 9/17/17

day on the ruby 2 midge.

Newly weds (about one year now), Ramona and Bryan spent Monday on the water with Carolyn.  They had a good day on the ruby 2 under an apricot egg pattern, or stripping the tiger tail or holographic green crackleback on 5 or 7 ips sinking leaders.  It was a beautiful day weather wise and the fishing just made it the perfect day.  Bryan has created a monster.

Ramona – 9/18/17

Weather has been beautiful.  Sunny days, no rain and temperatures in the low 80s.  Looks like more in store for us all the way into next weekend.

As I said, lots of wading water.  Generation has been off the past few mornings.  It is off today except for one hour this afternoon.

Good news, bad news.  Fishing has been good….good news!  Dissolved oxygen levels are very low….bad news!  With this in mind, we are reminding everyone to take try and get your fish in a little more quickly and get them back into the water as soon as you can.  We are seeing lots of dead fish laying on the bottom of the river.  If you have to take a picture, keep the fish in the water until you are absolutely ready to pick up the fish, snap the picture and put it back into the water.  Also, make certain the fish doesn’t swim off 10 feet or so and roll over.  They are fighting hard when hooked…normal response, but are beat up after this battle.  Let’s take some extra time right now and help our fishery get through this annual, low oxygen event!!!

John – 8/29/17

James on the river a week ago this past Thursday with John from Oklahoma.  Good day for John on the ruby 2 and P&P midges, and a gray scud.  Gene, from Kansas, was on the river with Carolyn.  He had a good day on the Ruby 2, lightning bug and the black copperhead midges.

Sunday, Carolyn had Dolph and Billie out for half a day.  This was a new experience for Billie.  We had a slow start to the morning, but finally figured out what they wanted.  Carolyn worked with Billie for quite a while on the roll cast and the regular cast.  She is a quick learner and, as predicted, after hooking

Billie – 8/31/17

her first fish, her casting went south.  Fun day for all of us.  They just recently got married and I think Dolph has a fly fishing partner too.  Tiger tail on a 3 ips sinking leader for Dolph and a Ruby 2, or P&P midge for Billie.

Dana out last Saturday with Jeff and Matt.  These guys had a good day on the red thread pattern, the ruby 2 and a ruby midge tied with silver head and silver wire.

Sunday started out slow for Susan and Lionel who were on the water with Carolyn.  But, we also observed that no one was catching fish.  Don’t know if it was just that things improved as we got further into the day or we finally figured out what to throw.  Anyway, it turned out to be a very good day on the Tiger Tail, mini sculpin in natural and the white mega worm.  Dana was out with Phil from Kansas.  They too had a tough start to the day.  Caught some on an olive soft hackle.

Lots of folks coming into the shop yesterday purchasing anything white.  Also doing well on the gray scuds.

Weather could not be nicer.  Temperatures in the upper 70s and low to mid 80s.  And, it looks like we are in store for more through this week and into next week.

Generation has been a bit spastic, or I should say, generation schedule and actual generation has been a bit spastic the past few days.  Not sure what is happening until you get to the water.  Overall, low or no water at some time during the morning then ramping up with the equivalent of one unit, then two before the day is over.

Monday before this past one, Jim was on the water with Marge and Price.  Good day for them on the tiger tail, ruby midge and the Hot Hare’s ear nymph.  It was another one of those up and down days on generation.

Miriam – 8/24/17

Thursday, Tom and Miriam spent the morning on the water with Carolyn.  This was Miriam’s first time with a fly rod.  It was one of those slow days.  One unit on at put-in and three by the time we came off.  We would find a small pod of fish and get several hits and land a fish or two, then nothing for a while.  And, we did get Miriam her first trout on a fly rod!!  Best patterns were the P&P or ruby 2 under a lightning bug.  Paula was on the water with Gina.  She had been out with Gina several time over the past several years.  They started their morning with the tiger tail.

Paula – 8/24/17

Nothing steady but they were getting hits.  Caught a few on the ruby 2, but the highlight of the trip was the last fish of the days caught on a purple hopper pattern!  What a way to finish the day!

Peter spent Friday morning on the water with Carolyn.  Started out a little slow, but then it took off.  Great day on the black copper head and ruby 2 midges.

Dana had Gary from Oklahoma on the water last Saturday.  Tough day, but they caught fish on the JQ streamer and a #12 cerise San Juan worm.  Mike and John had a good day on the water with James.  Best combo was a ruby 2 under a peach egg pattern.

Some rain in here today but it should be cleared out by this afternoon.  Through the weekend and into next week the weather looks great.  Low 80s and maybe some upper 70s with little chance for rain.  Sounds good to me.

Pretty stable pattern on the generation.  Off or low in the a.m. then increasing around 10:00 a.m.  Today we have low flow (30-40 mwh) and it should bump up around 1:00 p.m.

Mindy 8/12/17

Last weekend, Saturday and Sunday, Carolyn and Dana had Mindy, Matt, and Matt’s father, Gale on the water all day Saturday and half a day Sunday.  Mindy and Matt have fished with us before and this was Gale’s introduction to our water.  Saturday we had no generation until 2:00 when they turned on one unit then a second came on about 30 minutes later.  We all had a good day on the ruby 2, red San Juan worm, black copperhead midge and the Tiger Tail.  Pretty much the same patterns and generation flow again on Sunday.

Paul and his daughter, Katy spent the morning on the water

Katy – 8/14/17

with James a week ago this past Monday.  Tough day, but they brought some fish to the boat on the ruby 2 midge.

Tuesday, Caleb from Oklahoma, spent the morning on the water with Carolyn.  He wanted to catch fish and work on his skills a little.  He had a fun, learning day and caught fish mainly on the ruby 2 midge.  Also caught a few

Caleb – 8/15/17

stripping the holographic green crackleback.  This was one of those days where the water went up and then came down.  Hate it when they do that!

Thursday, James and Carolyn took a family from Texas out.  James had Katrianna and her brother, Jaden in his boat.  Carolyn took the father, Robert.  Water was off when we started but came on not too long after we hit the water.  Fished some on the rise, but really fished better after it settled down a little.  Everyone caught some nice fish, especially on the ruby 2 midge.  We also fished a big ugly with a P&P dropper and had fun with that.  Last, but not least, the holographic green

Jaden – 8/17/17

crackleback.  Not hot and heavy but enough to pull in a few stripping.

Katrianna -08/17/17

James took Chad from Iowa out on Friday.  This was Chad’s first time stripping and they caught fish on the tiger tail as well as midging with the ruby 2 and P&P midges.

Chad 0 8/18/17

First time fly fishers to our area, Mike and Dylan spent Saturday on the water with James.   Think they were pretty happy with our fishery.  It was the big ruby with a ruby 2 or P&P dropper for these guys.

Mike – 8/19/17

Dylan – 8/19/17

Sunday, Hank and his son Julius spent the morning on the water with Dana.  Red beaded San Juan worm and the copperhead black midge were their patterns for the trip.

The weather continues to be pleasant.  Had a few days with rain, but it hasn’t been so bad, except for a weeks ago Sunday, that we couldn’t get in some fishing.  Great temperatures in the upper 70s and 80s.  A chance for rain tomorrow morning, but the rest of the week looks like sunny skies and mid 80s to low 90s.

Generation has been a bit spastic the past few days.  What they are posting and what is happening are a tad apart.  Suppose to start generation at 7:00 a.m. the past three mornings.  NOT.  Started later in the day both Saturday and Sunday.  More Saturday then projected.  Sunday was about right on as far as flow.  Today, they blew threw a bunch of water at noon.

Brian – 8/4/17

A week ago this past Friday was one of those surprise days.  Had Brian and Bess and Dan and Paul came along to wade with us and on comes the generators just about the time we all got ready to fish.  So it’s plan B time.  Low flow, so we moved up to below the fish ladder and Brian and Bess fished the edge and I took Dan and Paul out toward the middle.  We caught a few on the tiger tail and one or two on the holographic green crackleback.  Brian and Bess were fishing the ruby 2 and also caught a few.  After a little bit, everyone swapped places, and Brian and Bess fished the middle with me.

Ross & 20″ brown – 8/5/17

Group of guys out with us a week ago Saturday.  James had Ross and Matt in his boat.  Fun day for them on the ruby 2 and throwing a hopper pattern.  Nice brown for Ross on the hopper.  Carolyn had Kevin and his son, Dylan.  First time fly fishing for these two guys and they caught on pretty quickly.  It was either the ruby 2 or black copperhead midge for these guys.

Kevin – 8/5/17

Mark and Mike spent the morning with Dana.  Ruby 2 and black copperhead midges were their patterns also.

Tuesday, James took Marv from Iowa out for half a day.  This was a surprise present from his wife.  First time fly fishing for him and it was a pretty good day.  He brought in a nice 18-1/2″ fish.  Flies were the ruby 2 and size 18 tan scud.  Dana had Rick and Lisa on the water for half a day.  They had a good day on the ruby 2 and P&P under an egg pattern.

Marv – 8/8/17

Bill from Illinois spent the morning Wednesday on the water with Carolyn.  Bill wanted to work on various presentations and catch fish…..of course.  Good day on the ruby 2, tiger tail and a few on the holographic green crackleback.

Laura – 081017

Laura and Karl fished with Carolyn Thursday.  Fun day for them mainly on the ruby 2 midge.  If I remember correctly, this was something new they wanted to try.

Friday was another fun day.  Carolyn had Kelley and her daughter out for half a day.  Both were brand new to fly fishing and it was a tough start to the morning.  Finally, we found some fish and finished up with a pretty good day.  I think Katlin’s smile is

Katlin – 8/11/17

Kelley – 8/11/17

almost as large as her fish!

Almost Fall weather in the forecast and pleasant past three days.  Low 80s all the way through the weekend and into next week.  There are some rain chances in the forecast, especially Sunday.  I’ll take it!

Great surprise yesterday when the water was off until 11:00 a.m.  It went to a low one unit for an hour, then up to a full unit.  At 1:00 p.m. a full two units came on and that was the day.  Today is about the same pattern but an hour or two later for each step.  Let’s hope we see this again tomorrow and, especially over the weekend.

Lots of trips this past week.  Larry and his wife Wendy, took their 11 year old daughter Hana out for half a day last Friday.  Each parent spent part of the trip in a boat with Hana.  James had Wendy and Hana for a while and they caught on the peach egg and rainbow warrior.  When they switched, Dana had Larry and Hana catching on the ruby 2, tiger tail and a red midge with a silver beadhead and wire.  Fun day for everyone.  Fishing was not fast and furious, but the guides really had fun getting to fish with Hana.  Stan had Ken and his friend Tom out for the morning.   They worked hard but caught fish on the big ruby with the ruby 2 dropper.  Three units were running when they hit the water, then more water at noon.

Saturday, Stan took Kathy and Chlorine out for the morning. Couple of good fly fishing ladies who had a very good day on the big ruby with the ruby 2 dropper.

Rich and Dana fished with Stan on Monday.  Pretty new fly fishers had a good day on the big ruby and ruby 2.  Hummm….seems to be a trend here.  Jack from Indiana, spent half a day with James.  Good day for him on the P&P and a peach egg pattern.

Jack – 7/31/17

Jeff and his son Carson were on the water the Dana.  New fly fishers had a good day on the ruby 2, tiger tail and an orange egg pattern.  Carolyn had

Meredith – 7/31/17

Meredith and his friend Jerry out all day Monday and again on Tuesday.  Meredith introduced Jerry to the fly rod (and they are still friends) and this was his introduction to fly fishing for trout.   Two very good days for these guys on the ruby 2 under

Jerry & Meredith – 7/31/17

the big ruby and stripping the tiger tail.  Over the two day, we had several doubles.  Glad I carry two nets!  Weather was great both days.  No humidity and temperature in the mid 80s.  Only negative was the water coming on hot and heavy around 2:00 p.m.  James had Rex and Gwen out for half a day.

Good day for these two fly fishers!  This was their first

Gwen – 8/1/17

experience in a drift boat and they liked it.  Gwen also was introduced to stripping.  They caught fish on the

Rex – 8/1/17

ruby 2 and stripping the tiger tail.  Stan had Joel from Texas out for the morning.  Joel had a good day on the big ruby with a ruby 2 dropper.

Wednesday was another OMG day.  Generators off until 11:00 a.m.  Then, a low one unit until 1:00.  Two units on then and we were drifting off!  Wendy spent the morning on the river catching fish!  Started early with the copperhead black midge.  When the fish laid off that, it was the ruby 2 under a lightning bug.  Once they turned on the

Wendy with fat, 19″ male – 8/2/17

low one, we started stripping the tiger tail and catching fish.  Finished up the day drifting out with the lightning bug and ruby 2 dropper.    Stan had Pat and his son Patrick.  They had a great day two on the tiger tail and ruby 2 midge.

Water off again this morning and great numbers are coming in from the waders on the water today.  James had Jack out again today and they had another really good day on the tiger tail and ruby 2.

I was so happy to send a note to Stan this morning saying “rain drops!”  Looks like it is going to cool us down a little over the next few days….at least into early next week.  Showers forecast for this morning and again this evening.  Then, mid to upper 80s through Monday and very little chances for moisture.  Great!

Generation schedule has been 50 mwh until about 10:00 a.m. then ramp up to two and finally three units by noon.  Once that third unit comes on, fishing really goes south.

Stan on the water last Sunday with Brian, from Texas.  Pretty good 1/2 day for him on big ruby, ruby 2, lightning bug and tiger tail.

Tuesday, Anthony and his son, Carson spent half a day on the water with Stan.  They too were from Texas.  Best pattern for them was the tiger tail.

Wade – 7/25/17

James and Dana had a group of guys from Oklahoma on the water.  Dana took Ted and Joe and they were catching on the Cerise San Juan worm, ruby 2 and stripping the tiger tail.  James guys, Jeff and Wade, floated the ruby 2 under the big ruby.

Ed and his wife Jean, spent yesterday morning on the water with Stan.  Fished good early on then slowed down as it got hotter and the water came up.  Another day of the ruby 2 under the big ruby.  This was Jean’s first experience with a fly rod.

Tom – 7/26/17

Gina had Wednesday Jim and his boss, Tom out for the morning.  Same scenario for them.  Fished better early, then slowed down as the day went on.  Big ruby, lightning bug and egg pattern.

Another 90s day, and, of course, heat advisory day.  This week looks like more of the same.  By Friday, there is a chance for rain.  Kind of hoped we would get some today, but it didn’t pan out.  A little rain would give us a day or two of relief from the 90s.

Both Friday and Saturday morning, they had the water off again until noon.  It’s been running all day today and scheduled to do the same again tomorrow.  Low one unit tomorrow morning until 7:00 a.m. but then it goes up to two units and three by noon.  They did get some of the cars out Saturday.  Not certain how many, but if they did not get all of them, and I don’t think they did, maybe they will shut the water down again next Friday and Saturday mornings.

Hans – 7/22/17

We had a group of people participating in the Orvis 301 clinic on the water Saturday.  Did they pick the right time to come.  Other than the blazing heat that day, the water

Steven – 7/22/17

was off in the morning.  Just like last time, you could catch them on almost anything!  James took Steven and Hans out for the day.  Fun day for them with the P&P, stripping tiger tails and throwing hopper patterns.   Stan’s guys, John & Ryan were stripping the tiger tail and crackleback

Linda – 7/22/17

most of the time they were on the water.  Linda and Tim, from Topeka, were out with Gina.  Started our with midges in the morning, the ruby 2, and P&P.   Then,  as things slowed down, she turned them into strippers using the tiger tail.  After the water came on, it was the big

Tim – 7/22/17

ruby w/ lightning bug or an egg and red midge dropper.  Dana’s guys, Brian and Don were catching on the black copperhead midge, lightning bug and cerise San

Don – 7/22/17

Juan worm.   I know a fun day was had by all.  Lots of smiley faces on the river Saturday morning

Brian – 7/22/17

90s and lots of sun for the next three days.  Monday and Tuesday, there is a chance (60%) for rain with temperatures dropping into the 80s.  Slight chance on Wednesday, but temperatures back into the 90s.

Low generation (30 mwh) in the morning for the past several days.  At this mwh, the flow is only around 2000 cfs and the level is in the 703 range.   Today they bumped it up earlier than they have been…think it was 10:00 a.m…..  Tomorrow they are supposed to shut it down from 7:00 a.m. to noon.

If they really shut the water down tomorrow, one better be out there wading when it get to a safe level.  The few times they have completely shut it down, fishing has been awesome.  Even at the low generation, (30 mwh) fishing has been very good.

Stan on the water this past Sunday with Pete and his son, Alec.  They had a great half day on the ruby 2, lightning bug, and tiger tail.  It was so much fun, they scheduled another trip on Tuesday.

Monday, James had Jim, from Kansas out for half a day.  Fun day for Jim on the ruby 2, and a red San Juan worm.  It was one of those days when the water stayed low, so they fished the rebar and rockin chair areas.

Another good day for Pete and Alec with Stan on Tuesday.  Even caught more this time.  Tiger tail and lightning bug.  Low flow day, so they stayed in the rockin chair area.  Carolyn out with Jack and his grandson, Zac.  Good day for them on the tiger tail and lightning bug.  Picked a few on the floozie and a couple on the filoplume.

Zac & 18″ bow – 7/19/17

Back to the water again for Carolyn, Jack and Zac on Wednesday.  This was Zac’s day as he landed a nice rainbow.  Another lightning bug and tiger tail day.   When the water got to moving a little more, we pulled and caught on the holographic green crackleback until it got going too fast.  James had Mike and Brian on the water and they had a very good day on the tiger tail and ruby 2.  Tony and Christie were out with Stan.  This was Tony’s first time with a fly rod and he did pretty darn good.

Jim & 21″ bow – 7/19/17

They caught fish on the tiger tail and lightning bug.  Early bird gets the worm.  Gina and Wednesday Jim hit the water a little early this Wednesday due to the heat and projected flow.  Jim landed a trophy, 21″ rainbow.  They mainly pulled streamers all morning, the tiger tail, crackleback and a wooly bugger.

30 mwh is definitely wadeable, especially in the area down from the fish ladder.  There were several waders out on Wednesday catching fish.

Hot is about the only way you can describe the past several days and it looks like we have more of the same ahead of us.  At least mid 90s for the next week with no serious rain chances until a week from next Sunday.

For the most part, we have had a low one generator almost every morning, then ramping up to two or three in the early afternoon.  The only exception was this past Friday and Saturday when they turned the generators off from 6:00 a.m. until noon.  They were supposed to remove some cars that had been washed into the river and are sitting around the Fall Creek area.

Ali – 7/10/17

Allison – 7/10/17

Last Monday, James had Mike and his daughter, Ali on the river for half a day.  What a great start for this new fly fisher Ali.   I wonder who had the biggest smile….Ali or Dad.  Good day for them on the big ruby with either a cerise San Juan worm or size 16 P&P dropper.  Ali’s first fish on a fly rod.  Stan, Carolyn and Dana were out with a three boat group.  Dana took Dawn and Ashley.  They had a good day on the ruby 2, holographic green crackleback and the tiger tail.  John and Allison fished with Carolyn.  Fun and good day for they on the lightning bug but especially stripping the tiger tail.   Stan had Richard catching fish on the big ruby with the lightning bug dropper.

Tuesday, Steve and Jim spent half a day on the water with Stan.  It was the big ruby and either a lightning bug or ruby 2 dropper.  It was certainly HOT weather wise that day.  Carolyn had Dave and his friend Tom out fishing.  It was one of those days where the fish would hit a pattern two or three times and then nothing.  We’d change flies and get a few more hits, then nothing.  Probably the most consistent pattern was the tiger tail which Tom had fun working with.  Otherwise, we fished the big ruby, lightning bug, cerise worm and ruby 2.

Jim – 7/12/17

Wednesday Jim on the water with Gina for a long half day.  Too hot for a full day.  They had a very good day on the tiger tail and lightning bug.  Water was low until noon.   Don and his friend Terry spent the morning with Carolyn.  Don has been fishing for a while, but this was

Terry – 7/12/17

Terry’s introduction to fly fishing.  He did very well.  Both of them did very well.  Tiger tail and lightning bug.

If there was a day we would all say “you should have been here yesterday”, it was this past Friday.  They turned the generators off at 6:00 a.m. and kept them off until noon.  As I mentioned above, they were supposed to remove cars from the river and needed the water low.  We were all a little skeptical about how fishing was going to be and it

Dan – 7/14/17

turned out to be worry for nothing.  I guess the fish were happy to see no generation.  Each of our boats landed lots of fish and one could see bent rods of fishers standing up and down the river banks.  James had Dan and his

son Brandon on the water that morning.   Black copperhead, copper dun, ruby 2, and P&P

Brandon – 7/14/17

midges, or stripping the tiger tail.   Gina had Dan and Carissa from Kansas on the water.  Dan had fished with us before but this was Carissa’s first time with a fly rod.  What a day to start!  She wanted to know if it was always like this!  Ruby 2 and black copperhead midges were all the needed.  Kathy and Ron from Louisiana fished with Carolyn.  They have fished with us for many years and this was possibly one of the best numbers day they have had.  P&P, ruby 2 and black

Kathy – 7/14/17

copperhead midges.

Saturday was another no generation days from 6:00 a.m. to noon.  It was another really good days, but not quite a good as Friday.  Stan took John and Justin out for the morning.  They didn’t have to go far before they found fish.  Mainly the lower Rockin Chair area on the black copperhead early and then the P&P as the morning started getting brighter.  Great day for them.