Looks like we might not cool down as much as it was indicated earlier.  Now, we are seeing mid to upper 80s through Thursday with partly sunny skies.  Chances of rain out of the forecast until Friday through Sunday with temperatures in the low to mid 80s through the weekend.

Generation has been pretty much all day, every day this past week.  Maybe 3 to 8 hours of no generation from midnight into early the next day then 2 to 4 generators running the balance of the day.  Yesterday, they never shut them down.

Darrell on the water half day Sunday with Edward and his son, William from Kansas.  Good day on the water with the red San Juan worm. 

Yesterday, the birthday ladies spent half a day with Carolyn.  Wanda’s birthday if 6/20 and Joanna’s is 6/21.  They have celebrated almost every one of their birthdays on the water with her since 2004.   Both love to fly fish and are good fishers.  Although Joanna prefers dry fly fishing, sometimes you gotta do what you can do.  Best patterns were the red or cerise San Juan worms.   Hope it was a good birthday!

Looks like a little cool down this week.  Today it is sunny, little breezy, with a chance of showers later in the day.  Monday looks like low 90s and partly sunny.  Tuesday through Thursday are predicted to be in the low 80s, partly sunny and chances of showers each day.  Showers disappear on Friday, still low 80s, but reappear Saturday with temperatrue moving to the mid 80s.

Not much wading time this past week.  Generators shutting down around midnight or 1:00 a.m.  Longest off period we have had was last Tuesday when they were off until 1:00 p.m.  Most of the week they have come on as early as 6:00 a.m. to as late as 10:00 a.m.  Projecting they will come on tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., but that is the same projection they have had all weekend and they have come on at 6:00 a.m.

Water is still off colored and running.  Jim our Thursday with John for Texas.  John is new to fly fishing, so they worked on everything.  Also caught some fish on the red midge, red San Juan worm and gray scud.  Stan had Scott and Rick from Oklahoma out all day.  They are both fairly new and had a good day on the red midge, and stripping rthe holographic green and silver bullet cracklebacks….which they liked the best. 

Friday, Stan had Doug and his wife, Connie, from Texas out all day.  No sooner got on the water, which was off, and they fired up all four generators.  Really dirty water for quite a while.  Good fishers and caught lots of fish.  Would like to have caught some larger fish, but fish were running pretty much in the 13-14 inch range.  Best patterns were the cracklebacks and the bug-eyed bugger.

Just as there are new gravel bars, there are also new holes!  Take time to feel out the new bottom when wading.  You could find a deep or deeper hole that was once not there!  Appropriate line from Hill Street Blues – “Be careful out  there!”

Storm came through last night and dropped limbs off trees here an there.  Left us with a beautiful day today.  Sunshine, temps in the mid to upper 80s, and very little wind.  Thursday and Friday look like partly sunny and chances of showers.  Temps in the mid to low 90s.  Weekend through Monday look dry, partly sunny and temperatures in the low 90s. 

Sunday, yesterday and today, we have had off water in the morning.  Projection is to turn the generators on at 11:00 a.m. today. Yesterday, they did not turn them on until 1:00 p.m.  and Sunday it was around noon. 

While the water has been low, fishing has been excellent.  Still reports of fishers catching on almost everything, and they are catching some nice fish!  Several 18 to 24 inch rainbows and even some browns being reported. 

Stan took Stuart from Ft. Smith, AR out Monday.  This was Leonard’s Father’s Day gift.  He had a  really good day, especially stripping the silver bullet crackleback.  Also caught fish on the size 16 red midge dropped below the big ruby after they turned on more generators in the afternoon.

Jim out yesterday with Steve Pemberton from Alabama.  They had a great 1/2 day (water was off) on a black zebra midge, the blood worm and pulling a jailhouse bugger.

Nice looking day today.  Temperatures in the low 90s, a little overcast with a slight chance of showers this afternoon (20%).  Forecast is still calling for temperatures in the upper 80s to low 90s through Friday with chances of showers each day.  Weekend looks dry so far.  Unless we get hit with a lot of rain, I am going to stop giving a blow by blow on the lake levels after this report.  But, as of this morning the lake levels are:  Beaver – 1128.77, Bull Shoals – 691.80, and Table Rock – 926.26. 

One of the main observations from our guides who were on the water yesterday is the change in our wading areas as well as the rest of the river.  We had our suspicions when the water was high because we were seeing gravel in high water in places we had never seen it before.  With the water off, we now have holes where there were gravel bars and gravel bars where there were none.  Below the MDC boat ramp, the area we always referred to as the “KOA narrows” is now relocated downstream 40-50 feet and is a shallow riffle all the way across the river….maybe ankle deep in some places.  If you can get to them, there appears to be more places to wade than before.  Some more reports on what was working yesterday morning when the generators were off.  Beadhead Hare’s Ear, insect green soft hackle, rockworm caddis green soft hackle, black zebra midge. olive wooly bugger. peach fur bug, and the list goes on.  Lots of different folks coming in saying they were “tearing them up” on these various patterns plus the ones listed yesterday.  What a day!

Friday, generators running, Jim had Price and Marge, from Lawrence, Kansas out for the morning.  They always have fun and were catching fish on the red midge, red San Juan, a gray scud and the sculpin bugger. 

Saturday, the Louisiana Kerrs were on the water again.  This time, Stan had Dawn and Albert, and Darrell took James Albert so they could do some  streamer work.  Another good day for them on the big pink midge, the ruby, and cerise San Juan.  James Albert picked a nice rainbow on a white streamer.  Among the many fish they caught, James Albert also caught a nice white bass stripping his streamers.  Albert jumped ship and caught this nice rainbow on the high bank as they drifted out.

Alexandria and first trout - 6/11/11

 Carolyn was with Dan and his daughter, Alexandria, on the water for half a day.  Alexandria is nine years old and this was her first experience at fly fishing.  For her first time, she did well getting the line into the water and mending.  Once we recognized a strike, she hooked several fish and we finally got a few to the boat.  Real trooper and likes to bring in fish.  Yeah!  Best pattern was the cerise San Juan worm.

Jim helped Dale celebrate his birthday on Saturday.  They spent the day chasing trout with the sculpin bugger, red San Juan and gray scud.  Sounds like Dale has a good birthday. 

Gina got the benefit of the off generation yesterday morning.  Two new fly fishers, Jeff and Julianna, from Kentucky.  They had a wonderful day learning how to cast, catching fish, mending, catching fish, working line, catching fish.  Best patterns were the black zebra midge and the size 18 ruby midge.  After the water came, on they returned to the shop to learn a little about bugs, knots, leaders, lines, and other gadgets.  Both left with a smile on their faces.

Little bit of rain this morning.  Possibly of some more scattered showers later today.  Looks like partly cloudy, temps in the upper 80s to low 90s, and chances of showers all week.  Lake levels are now at 1128.85 for Beaver, Bull Shoals is 691.77, and Table Rock is 926.31.  Keep on dropping. 

Generation is completely off this morning on Table Rock Lake.  Can’t believe that!  Just had a friend call me….to make me feel good?!…said “everyone is catching fish standing in the river this morning.  Catching them on the ruby midge, cicada, crackleback, just anything”.  She then said, “the rebar has changed but there are a lot of people standing down there fishing, there’s one with a fish on, and another one with a fish on”…..So it goes.  I’m in the shop, can’t go fishing.  But, I can picture everyone standing in the river, rods bent with fish on and smiles on their faces.  

It’s been a pretty good and so-so few days on the river with the spastic generation patterns and dingy water.  Jim had Bud out all day Thursday.  They had a good day on the gray scud, red midge and sculpin bugger.  

Will With 18" Rainbow - 6/9/11

Gina had one of her red fish guides from Louisana, Will, on the water Thursday morning.  She got to show him the difference in trout fishing from red fish.  They had a great, fun day on the olive floozie and cerise worm.  This was his first fresh water trout experience.  Good start! 

Friday, the Louisana Kerrs were here.  Nice, good quality fish day.  Dawn spent the day with Carolyn and Albert and James Albert were with Darrell.   The cerise San Juan worm dropped under the big ruby midge were the best patterns, although we did catch a few stripping the crackleback.  It’s just in Dawn’ blood…stripping. 

Dawn & 19" Rainbow - 6/10/11

Warm weather and no rain, the lakes are dropping.  We still expect to see low 90s through next Wednesday with chances of scattered showers Friday through Monday and again on Wednesday.  This morning, the various lake levels were:  Beaver – 1128.99, Bull Shoals – 691.86, and Table Rock – 926.66.  Table Rock is generating 24/7, but not necessarily all four units going all the time.  This morning we actually had two units going and the tailwater level actually was as low as 704.5.  However, not for long.  By 6:00 a.m., it was up to 706.8 and I have two more horns this morning so it is now up to 707.7 feet at 12:45 p.m. 

Wednesday, Gina took Joe and his 8 year old sun, Hunter, out for a half day of fly fishing.  Hunter looks like a natural.  He could get his fly like into the water and even mend.  Landed his first fish by himself on a silver bullet.  Fun day for everyone.  Best patterns were the silver bullet crackleback and a cerise San Juan worm.

Hunter Maddick - 6/8/11Joe Maddick - 6/8/11

Darrell had Jack and Karen from Tennessee on the water for half a day.  Jack fly fishes quite a bit, but Karen is brand new.  Their best patterns were the cerise San Juan worm, and a burgundy midge.

Wow!  Hot weather.  We have had several days in the mid to upper 90s, and with our humidity, it is HOT!  As I mentioned in the last report, the flood gates are.  They turned them off Saturday afternoon, so we are now just seeing a constant flow of generators.  However, the levels on Taneycomo have gone as low as 706.2 feet.  Still too high to wade, but fishing from a boat is much safer and easier.  As of 6:00 a.m. today, Beaver is still sitting in the 1129 foot level.  Bull Shoals is down to 692.01 and Table rock is at 926.88

Weather forecast through Tuesday of next week is temperatures in the low (we hope) 90s.  Chance of isolated thundershowers Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Right now, these chances appear to be more north of us.

Sunday, Carolyn was out with Lynn and David again.  This is the third time they have fished with us and Lynn gets better every trip and catches more fish than the last time.  David likes to pull streamers, but we really couldn’t find a pattern they wanted Sunday.  However, we did boat a good number of fish on the red, size 16 D-ribbed midge.  Dana had a couple guys, Darrell and his son, Jason,  from Wyoming on the water for half a day.  They said all the water is “blown out” on Wyoming.  Their best patterns were the pink San Juan worm and a peach egg. 

Jason's first trout on fly rod - 6/5/11

Darrell - 6/5/11

Darrell and Jim both on the water Monday.  Darrell had Jim and his wife, Jean, from Ohio out for 1/2 a day.  They used to bring their children here many years ago to boat and enjoy the area.  Now that everyone is grown and gone, they decided to start visiting the area again.  They caught and missed several fish on a black zebra midge.  Jim’s couple, Dan and Vivian, are from Kansas.  They are pretty new at this sport so Jim gave them a good fishing and instruction trip.  Best patterns were a red midge, red San Juan and a #6 sculpin bugger. 

Jim on the water again with Dan and Vivian on Tuesday.  Pretty much the same patterns and, of course, a little more instruction.  They had a fun time.  Stan took Rob and Matt, from Nebraska out for half a day.  These guys fly fish….mostly for pan fish, but are now trout fishers!  Said they had a good day and learned a lot.  Best patterns were the red midge and the silver bullet crackleback.

Yesterday, around 4:30 p.m. the five flood gates were shut down. Good and bad.  Would like to see the level dropped a little more, but it certainly makes it a lot safer to get on the river.  At 6:00 p.m. today, Beaver is still in the 1129 level, exactly 1129.13.  Bull Shoals is now at 692.91 and Table Rock is 927.67.  Looks like we are in for a warm week.  Tomorrow will be sunny at temperatures in the low 90s.  Monday through Friday at predicted in the 90s and partly sunny.  Friday and Saturday we are seeing chances of showers and Saturday should cool down a little into the upper 80s.

With the five flood gates open Thurday, Stan and Jim took a group out for half a day.  Stan had Dale and Erick, and Jim tookJim and Gary.  These guys were friends, from various areas in the States.  For the most part, they were new to fly fishing.  Although their favorite past time is the golf course, they decided the fly fishing was also a great sport.  In a short half day, (tee time was 1:30 p.m.) they all had a good day.  Jim’s guys did well on a size 6 sculpin bugger and Stan’s guys caught fish on the pink cerise worm, but their best patterns were the silver bullet and holographic green cracklebacks. 

Friday, Carolyn took Rich and his daughter, Janet, from Kansas out for a full day.  With the flood gates and really dirty water, we managed to get several fish to the boat on the size 16 red tungsten beadhead midge, dropped under the size 12 holographic red midge.  Worked the edges and drop offs along all the banks  down past Pointe Royale.   During the time we were on the water, the Corp turned off the five flood gates…Yeah!…and the water dropped more than two feet.  Hope this will help clear up the water.  It has been a coffee with cream brown for several days.

Saturday, Jim had Craig, from Kansas out for a half day of instructional fishing.  They did a lot of casting and line work, then nymphing and streamer techniques for presenting flies to fish.  Caught several fish on the red midge, red San Juan worm, a holographic green crackleback and a size 10 olive sculpin.  Stan and Carolyn were on the water with friends of Buz and Ginnie who were exposing their friends to the wonders of Missouri.  Carolyn had Chrisie and Kathy.  Christie is from St. Louis and Kathy is from Louisiana.  Cristie’s husband, Larry, and Cathy’s husband Mike, were with Stan.  The group had spent the day before at Dogwood Canyon and learned a little on fly fishing.  They  had a good time there catching fish on a fly rod and learning the “ropes” a little.  Whole new world on Taneycomo with the dirty, fast water.  New techniques, and new flies.  Everyone had a fun day catching fish on the size 16 red midge, dropped under the size 12 holographic red midge as well as stripping the silver bullet using the sinking leaders in seams.

Other than Beaver, there has been a noticeable drop in the lakes.  At 7:00 a.m. today, Beaver is still holding at 1129.23, but Bull Shoals is now down to 693.87 and Table Rock is at 929.52.  They are still running five gates plus the four generators on Table Rock.  This is definitely helping to get the lake level down more quickly.  Weather for the balance of the week looks warm!  Today we will be in the upper 80s with a slight chance for showers.  Thursday through Monday look like sunny to partly sunny with temps. in the low 90s.  By Tuesday, we again have a chance of showers and temperatures in the upper 80s.

Stan on the water Monday morning with Mike and his daughter Amanda.  This was Amanda’s second time fly fishing all within a month’s time frame.  They had a great day, and as Mike put it when he came back into the shop, “we caught a boat load of fish”.  Drifting, they caught several on the cerise worm, but the highlight of the day was stripping the silver bullet and holographic green cracklebacks.  These were their best patterns.