After we got over the shock of snow on Wednesday and Thursday, and the extreme cold, especially on Friday, what a great weekend.  both Saturday and Sunday were in the 40s, partly cloudy (sun peeked out several times) and very little wind.  Most of this week is supposed to be in the low to mid 30s with Friday hitting the mid 40s (we’ll see on that one!).  Although the generation projection said water running Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we have seen the same pattern as the rest of the week….on in the morning until 10:00-11:00 a.m. then off for 5-6 hours and back on in the late afternoon.  There was lots of wading time this weekend.  With the more than pleasant weather, it was a shame the projection stated the water would be running all weekend.

With the temperatures in the single digit on Friday morning, it was mutually agreed that a 10:00 a.m. start would be a little warmer.  Although low 30s was projected for Friday, don’t think it made it out of the upper 20s.  Stan took Jim from the St. Louis area and his son Matt, who lives in Colorado, out for a short full day float.  Again, they forcast the water running all day, but when they hit the water, it had shut down.  Other than cold, fished pretty good.  Grey scud and size 18 copper dun midge were the primary patterns they used all day. 

After the fly tying clinic Saturday morning (good turn out), fishing fever got the best of me, especially as nice as the day was, so I stopped at the boat ramp for a little while.  Fish were popping everywhere so I tried a holographic green crackleback….no takers.  Okay, let’s do a soft hackle.  One bump on the copper dun soft hackle, nothing on a P&P soft hackle, so out with the sinking leader and tied on a black wooly bugger.  First cast, hit, second cast, fish.  Stood there on the boat ramp and caught enough fish to satisfy my fever. 

Few fishers out today.  One came in this morning on his way home and said he had a great day on the dark gray scud at the rebar hole.  Another came in this afternoon and he had a slow day for a while, but finally started catching them with the black wooly bugger up near the outlets.

Not going to be in the 40s today.  Looks more like mid 30s and overcast most of the day.  Looking for SNOW!!! to start late tonight.  Right now they are forecasting 2-5 inches.  Sooooo…if you are one of those who likes to fish in the snow, here’s your chance!  It is cool, when the large, white, soft flakes are hitting the water.  All the sound is cushioned by the falling snow, so it is very quiet and soft.  Under the right conditions, the fish will think it is a blizzard hatch and you’ll see fish popping everywhere.  Anyway, so much for that.  Thursday will be in the upper 20s probably due to the snow cover.  Friday is still predicted to be sunny but temperatures will now be in the mid to upper 20s with Saturday sunny and mid to upper 30s.  Just a bit cooler than I showed yesterday.  Sunday and Monday are still a toss up with temperatures in the mid to upper 30s, but moisture is still in the picture.  Generation continues along it routine of off for 5-6 hours in the late morning into the afternoon.

Reports from the river are still good.  With the cool weather we had yesterday, not too many fishers coming in, but those who did were having a good day, especially on gray scuds.  Still a few on the black wooly bugger.

Don’t forget to mark your calendar for MARCH 5, 2011.  Get in on the drawing for a guide trip to fish for steelhead and a night’s stay in Michigan.  More to follow.

Weather has been a bit of a guessing game.  Supposed to have had some showers during the day yesterday and possibly some sleet last night.  Guess what?  Nothing!  It is getting cooler today.  Started out this morning in the upper 30s and is quickly dropping during the day.  Supposed to be in the 20s by the time I close the shop this afternoon.  Tomorrow’s prediction is low 40, Thursday the upper 20 with the possibility of snow.  Friday looks like partly sunny and mid 30s with Saturday sunny and low 40s.  Snow showers Sunday and Monday, but that is a long ways off.  Could do a couplete 180 degrees by then.  Water generation still off and on and off again, so late morning and early afternoon wading opportunities are there.

Half a day float yesterday for Ken and his brother Sam.  Both are residents of Missouri, just different cities.  Stan started them out around 10:00 a.m.  We were in a pickle with the rain prediction for yesterday, but it never happened.  Turned out to be a pretty nice day in the mid to upper 40s. 

Sam - 1/17/11

Sun would have helped, but no wind so it certainly was a tolerable day on the water.  Good fishing day too!  Best patterns were a size 12 gray scud and a size 18 copper dun midge.  Midges were not working well in the early part of the trip, but by 3:00 p.m. and later, they were the best pattern.

Good weekend both in fishing, generation and weather!  What more can you ask for in mid January?!  Friday was somewhere in the 40s, Saturday was into the mid 50s and Sunday into the 40s again.  We are expecting lower 50s today.  Unless the sun comes out, that might be a stretch.  Looks like 30s and 40s for the rest of the week with some wintery stuff scattered in here and there.  In addition to the nice weather, the generation schedule cooperated for those who wanted to wade.  After a three hour shot of water from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., it was off until Saturday morning at 6:00.  Four hours this time then off again until 6:00 p.m.  Our projection for today is on five hours from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.  A seven hour off-time is projected with it starting up about 6:00 p.m. again tonight.  It will be time to come off the water by then anyway.  “O dark hundred” and getting cool!

Reports from those who fished Friday were good.  Good numbers and nice fish.  Hitting most everything, grey and tan scuds, copper dun midges, olive and black wooly buggers.  Saturday’s reports were a little more difficult.  Catching fish, but working a little harder for them, especially depending on where you were fishing.  Up near the hatchery, we had a glowing report from one of the students in the Saturday fly tying clinic.  He called yesterday to say he had a great day on the Big Ugly that he had tied.  First time to catch something top water and on a bug he tied!  Can’t get much better!  The copper dun midge, black and olive wooly buggers and sculpin patterns were all working.  Like I said, not fast and furious, but fast enough to hold your interest.  Sunday when back to really good day on the water for most of the folks I talked to.  At the Lookout Pointe area, the size 12 scuds both in grey, and tan were working well.  Black wooly bugger was still doing well most anywhere you threw it.  Lots of nice fish!  Beautiful color on the rainbows!

Wow!  Had a few nights of single digits.  It felt pretty darn cold Wednesday morning when I got into my car and the outside temperature gauge read 7 degrees!  Must say that today felt pretty good even though it was 15 degrees when we ventured outside the house.  Did turn out to be a nice day today with sunshine all day, temperatures got into the mid 30s and very little wind.  What a difference.  We dodged the bullet on snow fall.  Little signs of it here and there but the roads were never covered and the stairs and drive in front of the store had no signs of snow by mid day on Monday.  Temperatures will continue nice, for this time of the year, mid to upper 30s tomorrow, 40s Saturday, and upper 30s to 40s both Sunday and Monday.  However, there is mention of moisture of some kind.

Generation schedule had been consistent so far this week.  On the morning around 5:00 or 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. or noon, then off for 5-6 hours.  Gets it down far enough to do some good fishing and wading.  And, it looks like that trend might continue Friday.  The projection is for the generators to go off at 11:00 a.m. with 6 hours of off time tomorrow morning/afternoon. 

One of our customers came in Tuesday afternoon, to warm up I think, and said he had had a great day up near the hatchery.  Water was off and he was fishing between outlets 1 and 2 toward the south bank.  He was fishing a Big Ugly with a primrose and pearl midge dropper.  Said it made him think of the “good old days”, when you had a fish on almost every cast.  His last breakoff made him leave the water as he could not tie on another fly!  Too cold. 

Just a reminder to mark your calendars.  March 5, 2011.  We will have John Gouker and Jim Haeck from Schmidt Outfitters in Wellston, Michigan here to do a presentation on fishing for steelhead  in Michigan.   Both have been involved in fly fishing for many years.  John is a full time, year around fly fishing guide and fly fishing instructor for Schmidt, while Jim guides some time, he spends most of his time in the shop.  Both fish the Little and Big Manistee Rivers for steelhead, trout and smallmouth bass.  They will also tie a few steelhead flies and give a demo on spey and switch rod casting.  They plan to have provide time to let interested people try their hand at these techniques.  For a chance to shake the cabin fever, get out and learn about something new and different, mark those calendars!  MARCH 5, 2011.    John is giving away a free guide trip and one night’s stay at Schmidt’s in a drawing of people who attend the presentation!  Better be there!  More detailed information to follow.  Stay tuned!…

Great fly tying clinic this past Saturday.  Clinic was full, so if you are thinking about coming to any of the upcoming ones, be sure to give us a call so we can put you on the list.

We did get some snow over night.  So far, it is not too much and the roads are in good condition.  Temperature going to struggle to get into the low 30s today with more snow on the way late today and through the night.  They are saying a possibility of 1 inch more on top of the dusting we already have.  Temperatures will be in the 20s Tuesday and Wednesday, then a warming trend, into the 30s! Thursday and possibly 40s Friday and Saturday.  Right now, there is a possibility of moisture on Saturday.  Off water time both Friday and Saturday.  Yesterday they ran a couple geneerators all day starting at 5:00 a.m.  Generating right now but the projection is for it to be off around noon for five hours. 

Had a few groups of fishers in the shop yesterday.  Some had been fishing and were heading home; others just getting here and going fishing.  One father and son had a wonderful day on the water Friday.  Both had caught more fish than they had caught in a long time.  They were wading up in the hatchery area.  Another group was a mixed bag.  Some had had a good day fishing, but a few in their group said they spent a little too much time in the trees.  Scuds, tan fur balls and black wooly buggers were some of the patterns they had been throwing.  I stopped at the boat ramp Saturday around 3:00 p.m. to see circles everywhere.  Had to throw a line, which I did for 30 minutes or so.  Caught several fish on the ruby midge and the primrose & pearl midge.

Gina and Stan took Dan, his son, Danson, and his son-in-law Jonathan out for half a day yesterday.  The last dine Dan fished with us it was his third time to have a fly rod in his hands.  He had definitely fallen in love with fly fishing, and he received a new fly rod for Christmas.   Yesterday was its first day on the water and as Gina said “He got the skunk off the new rod”.  Picture below is of his first fish on the new rod!  Stan took Danson and Jonathan.  Both of these guys are brand new to fly fishing.  Everyone did well and had a good number of fish on as well as making it to the boat!  Best patterns were the pink or cerise San Juan worms, dropped below the large ruby midge.

Danson & Jonathan - 1/5/11

Dan's first fish on new fly rod

Wish I knew another tune, but, the water is running.  However, guess this is pretty normal.  Run generators during the week to keep power going for heating.  We did see them off this past weekend.  Thank you very much! Weather continues to cooperate.  40s the past two days and expect to see that again today and probably into Saturday when it could be even a little warmer.  But remember, what goes up must come down.  Sunday’s forecast looks like 30s and at this time, a possibility of some moisture of some kind.  Projection for today is…..water is running!  It will run between the equivalent of two generations and one generator all day.  

Stan on the water yesterday with Phil, who recently became a full-time resident of the area.  Phil moved here from Kansas and “welcome to the area Phil”!  He drug along his long-time friend, Larry who had never fly fished before.  They had a good half day on the water with the red midge and pink San Juan worm dropper.  Used a few other patterns, but this seemed to be the most consistent.  Got a couple more boats hitting the water today.  We’ll see how they do.

before

Wow!  What a New Year’s Eve day!  Severe storms came through an area that included Oklahoma, Arkansas and Missouri very early Friday morning.  Considerable damage and fatalities in Arkansas and Missouri.  Our hearts go out to these folks for their losses.  Storms continued late into the morning and we finally got a break in the weather about 10:00 to 10:30 a.m.  The rain stopped and the clouds started thinning out.  The temperature that morning was almost 60 degrees and once the storm cleared, temperatures were in in the mid to upper 60s. 

The generation had been non-stop from 5:00 a.m. Tuesday morning until midnight New Year’s eve.  Happy New Year everyone, you had no generaton new Year’s Day.  It did fire up again this morning around 5:00 a.m. and they project it will be on for four hours.  So, far at 9:45 a.m., it is still running.  But, it is a very low one.  The tailwater is only 703.1.  Table Rock did come up 4/10s of a foot from the Friday rain.  Projection for Monday is generation; everything from low two to a normal two generators.

After the rains stopped and we got an all clear from the tornado watch, there were some brave souls wanting to finish up 2010 the best way…on the water.  Kristie and Rick from the St. Louis area, spent the rest of the morning and all afternoon with Stan.  They had a wonderful day on the red midge with a cerise San Juan worm dropper, and a peach egg pattern.  Darrell took Steve and Virgil from Kansas out for the remainer of the fishing day.  Steve had fished with Darrell before and decided he wanted to contaminate Virgil.  Better yet, this was a Christmas present to the two of them from their wives.  Virgil’s first time and he loved it.  Their flies were the ruby midge and the red midge.

Bob and Linda, our good friends from Kansas squeezed in a couple hours with Carolyn.  We were going to all go wading, but since they were running up and down two generators, we took the boat out and had one very productive float from just below outlet 3 down to the boat ramp.  Nice fish on a UV gray scud with a pink San Juan worm dropper and a big ruby midge with the pink San Juan worm dropper. 

New Year’s Day was definitely slower for most of us.  Guess it depended on where you were.  I spoke with one of our customers this morning and he said they had a great day in the gauntlet area around the big stump.  Spoke to others and they had only caught a few in several hours.  We fished for a little while (how long does it take for your fingers to freeze?…about that long).  We would catch a couple on this fly, holographic green crackleback; and a couple on another fly, etc.  Best pattern with most fish was the size 18 copper dun midge.  However, we were fishing the Rockin Chair area and below.

Just for information, the free reel deal with the purchase of an Orvis Helios or Hydros rod expired December 24, 2010.  Sorry if you missed out on this great deal.  Do still have a few great rods on sale!

2010 is just about at its end.  I hope many of you can start your New Year fly fishing….even for just a cast or two!  Know the weather is supposed to change for the worst tomorrow late afternoon.  We have had unbelievable weather for the past two days and expect pleasant temperatures tomorrow morning, but as I said, it will start deteriorating some time in the late afternoon.  Also believe we will have some wind as it will be blowing in the colder weather.  Generation schedule has been its usual crazy self.  The water was off Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Monday we had a shot of water in the morning, off for six hours mid day then back on.  After they started running water Tuesday morning around 7:00 a.m. they had not shut it down.  However, both yesterday and today, they have pretty much run the equivalent of one generator although at times they were using 2 or 3 generators to accomplish this.  May be will have the water off again this weekend from Friday though Sunday!  Everyone cross your fingers!

Stan on the water yesterday with Matt and Kelly from Oklahoma.  Nice couple of first time fly fishers.  They had a good time, learned a bit, and caught some fish on the red size 16 midge. 

Lots of folks fishing in the Hatchery area the past two days.  Have heard from great catching stories and “we need help” stories.  For the most part, however, they are catching on gray or tan scuds and red San Juan worms.