Pretty cool weekend!  Saturday maybe reached the low 40s, but it was windy and cloudy all day.  Yesterday started out as a repeat of Saturday, but it did clear up in the early afternoon and the sun warmed things up nicely.  Today looks like cloudy and low 50s.  The rest of the week looks promising…..after Tuesday.  Forecast for Tuesday is thunderstorms and mid 50s.  Wednesday will be partly cloudy and upper 40s, Thursday, SUNNY and mid 50s, Friday partly cloudy and mid 60s, weekend sunny to partly cloudy and upper 50s both days.  Generation continues pretty consistent.  On in the mornings for a while, then off until late afternoon.  They did project generation all day Sunday, which was true, the difference was the amount of generation.  Projection for for a low, and in fact they ran a low two generators all day.

What a fun day we had Saturday.  Despite the no so great weather, several folks showed up and enjoyed a very interesting presentation on steelhead fishing by our two guests from Michigan, John Gouker and Jim Haeck.   After the presentation, everyone went to the river where the two guys demonstrated switch rod and spey casting.  I think everyone tried their hand at it.  Verrry interesting!  And, lots of fun trying to swing those long rods and differently configured lines across the water.  But, it can be done!  Got a lot of practicing to do.  Thanks to everyone who showed up and thank you guys for giving us something new to learn and lots of great information.

Jim on the water yesterday for a half day with Dirk from Arkansas.  Dirk is a fairly new fly fisher, so Jim was in his element.  Worked on casting, mending, line work and hook sets.  Sounds like they could have used a little more work on hook sets.  Missed and lost a lot of fish, but good news, they also landed fish!  Best patterns were the red midge, gray scud and a size 10 olive bug-eyed bugger.  Dirk learned a lot and had a great day on the water!

We are escaping from the awful winter weather and the cabin fever!  Be sure to join us on tomorrow, Saturday, March 5, 2011.  You can come as early as 9:00 a.m. as the coffee pot will be on and we might just have some donuts.  Events of the day are as follows:

10:00 a.m. – Michigan Steelhead Fishing Presentation – John Gouker, guide and instructor for Schnmidt Outfitters

11:00 a.m. – To the river for demonstration on spey and switch rod casting – John Gouker and Jim Haeck.  Anyone wanting to try their hand at this will get a chance

Noon – Hot dogs, chips and water or soft drinks will be available at the shop.

1:00 p.m. – More switch and spey rod opportunity for anyone who didn’t get to try their hand at it earlier. 

Rest of the afternoon the Michigan guys will tie some of their steelhead flies, a few other tyers will be in the shop.

Casting pointers for anyone who wants.

Hourly drawings – must be present when your number is called

Special drawings – Full day guided steelehead trip and one nights stay at Schmidt Outfitters for two.  1/2 day guided trip for two on Taneycomo.  Do not need to be present to win these drawings….just make certain you get you name in the bucket!!!

Extra discounts on sale items as well as other special sale prices just for the day.  Our way of saying “Thank You!” for your business.

Lots of wading time for the past week and, looking at the projection for tomorrow, it will be a full day of wadeable water again tomorrow.  Can’t say a whole lot about the weather.  Last I heard, we might get some rain showers or even snow showers in the morning, but it is supposed to clear off and get into the upper 40s or possibly the low 50s.  Pretty good weather for this time of year, but certainly not as nice as we have been having it….70s?  March!?  Luck us! 

Jan - 3/3/11

On the water yesterday with Jan and Mike from Oklahoma.  Had a pretty good day….not fast and furious, but as Jim “Ugly” says….fished steady all day.  It did fish pretty steady and we caught some nice fish.  Almost all of them were caught on the primrose & pearl midge during the bright part of the day, and then the copper dun midge once some clouds started moving in.  Jan brought two 17-1/2 inch rainbows to the boat and, unfortunately, lost her biggest one of the day.  We all just kept saying what a beautiful day it was, great weather and fishing!

Every day we have like the weather we are getting is just one less day of winter weather!  Sounds good!  Yesterday did turn out to be a nice day and, so far today, it is very nice.  Upper 40s on my way into work this morning.  Still cloudy, think we might get some rain, but temperatures are predicted to be in the 70s.  Tomorrow looks like lower 50s with possibility of showers.  Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday all look nice…mild temperatures.  Friday possibility of showers, and guess what!  Looks like lower 40s and possibly showers for our Open House on Saturday.  Boo! Hiss!  We will see; that is a ways off. 

Generation has been off since yesterday morning.  Projected to be off all day today and tomorrow morning.  Some generation late tomorrow afternoon, probably around 6:00 p.m.  We are now seeing the run off from the rains we had last week.  Table Rock Lake is just 3/10s of a foot short of coming up a foot.  The level this morning is 907.6 feet.

Selina's first fish on a fly rod

Stan had a new fly fishing couple from Iowa on the water yesterday.  Marty and Selina spent a half day, first learn a little about casting and line management.  The rest of the day they spent hauling in fish.  Good day.  Best patterns were the rusty in the a.m. when it was still overcast.  Once the sun started peeking out, the primrose and pearl midge finished the trip.

It was soo pleasant out yesterday afternoon, I stopped by the boat ramp and tossed a floozie into the water.  Caught a couple fish on this, a few on a holographic green crackleback and then had to try a dark olive soft hackle.  Fish were popping everywhere.  Unfortunately, they did not want my soft hackle and it was getting pretty dark so I packed up and went home.

Think we got some rain yesterday!  Going to be cloudy, windy and cool today….probably in the 40s.  Tomorrow, however, is taking a turn around the corner again and will be in the upper 50s to lower 60s.   Believe I heard that Sunday will be in the 70s; down side is the possibililty of showers.  At least through Thursday next week, it looks like 50s and 60s.  Partly cloudy Monday, sunny Tuesday and Wednesday and mostly cloudy Thursday.  Let’s hope we get no more rain for a while until this soaks in.  Generation schedule is another issue.  Although they were not supposed to run much water yesterday, after the rains slowed down, the generators fired up.  At 4:00 p.m., they turned on all four generators which are still running right now.  Although they projected running only one this morning, they ran four, but did turn them off….as projected.  The lake has not come up too much (when I checked at 11:30 a.m. Table Rock Lake was at 907.0), but we still have not seen the results of the run off. 

Monday started out cloudy and cool.  Stan took Mike, one of our regulars from Oklahoma, out for a half day float.  When they got to the water, the horn sounded but no water.  Headed up toward the big hole to beat the water flow, but no water…false alarm.  Anyway, they had a great day on the water.  Most fish Mike had ever caught in a short outting.  It was a midge day, the rusty, primrose & pearl and the copper dun.

DON’T FORGET – CHECK, CLEAN OR DRY you gear!  Let’s keep didymo from spreading to other waters!

Okay everyone, we have a job to do…..protect our fisheries!  I know many of us have been hearing about “didymo” or “rock snot” in the White River system and we think “boy that doesn’t sound good” and go on our way.  Didymo is an invasive alga that can form large thick mats on the bottom of streams smothering aquatic life vital to the food chain that supports fish.  Didymo has been found in the White River in Arkansas.  There was just recently suspect of Didymo in Taneycomo, but I just spoke with our Hatchery biologist this morning and he said that the suspicious alga was not Didymo, our water is still unaffected…at this point.  So, our job is to keep it this way!

I think of the times I hit the water here on Taneycomo early in the day the horn blows, so I check the schedule and no generation is predicted for Bull Shoals, so off to Bull Shoals to finish the day of fishing…..or visa versa.  Bull Shoals horn blows and off to Taneycomo or Roaring River.  Did I take time to CHECK, CLEAN OR DRY my equipment!!??

The Missouri Department of Conservation has prepared a great flier on what to do to help stop the spead of didymo.  They will soon be holding public meetings to discuss this threat and what we can do to help prevent it from speading to Missouri streams.  In the meantime, we can be proactive.  Below are some of their recommendations:

Before entering the water:

CHECK – Remove all visible clumps of algae and plant material from fishing gear, waders, equipment, water shoes and sandals, canoes and kayaks, and anything else that has been in the water. 

CLEAN – Clean your gear in a 2% household bleach solution (1/3 cup per gallon water), 5% saltwater solution (1 cup per gallon water) or dishwashing detergent.  Scrub boats and other “hard” items thoroughly; completely soak equipment, felt-sole waders, personal flotation devices and other “soft” items for at least 20 minutes!!!!

OR

DRY – Allow any item that has been in contact with the water to completely dry; the item should be exposed to sunlight and left to dry for at least  48 hours.

We are fortunate to have so many great fisheries in Missouri.  Let’s give them a “little tender love and care”!

Just a recap of what is going on at River Run Outfitters for the next few weeks.

• March 5, 2011 – The Great Escape!  Escape from that cabin fever.   We will start the morning with coffee and donuts at 9:00 a.m.  Presentation from the Michigan guys at 10:00 a.m. on steelhead fishing.  After their presentation, we will have spey and switch rod casting demos and an opportunity for interested people to try their hand at it.  Hots dogs at noon, few fly tyers, drawings – the biggie is a full day guide trip for two of steelhead fishing in Michigan.  Includes a night stay at Schmidt Outfitters lodge.  We’ll have casting instruction, a few new rods for you to shake, games, more drawings, extra cuts on sale items….and more.  
• APRIL 16, 2011 – Women’s Fly Fishing Clinic
• From now through the first week in April, we still have fly tying clinics scheduled every Saturday morning.  Be sure to sign up early!  They have been filling up fast!

Okay, now for some more important stuff.  Weather is still very nice for this time of the year.  Monday was not too pretty, especially in the middle of the day.  Cloudy, windy and just down right cold!  Yesterday was a pretty nice day especially with the sunshine.  Today, is cloudy, expecting temperatures in the 50s and mostly cloudy all day.  Sounds like tomorrow is going to be a little nasty; low 50s  with showers and thunderstorms, possibly severe.  Friday look for upper 40s and partly sunny, Saturday upper 50s, Sunday upper 50s to low 60s and chance of showers, Monday upper 50s again with a chance of showers.  Tuesday mid 50s and partly cloudy.  As much as we don’t like the rain, we certainly can use some as we are still in a slight drought condition. 

Now for water generation.  Getting some fishing time in almost every day.  Other than this past Sunday, we have had off generation from around 8:00 a.m. until late afternoon.  Today is no different.  Had some generation going this morning at it shut down around 8:30 a.m.  Right now, (9:30 a.m.), the level has dropped to 902.3 and it is projected to be off until 6:00 p.m.   

Fished with our Louisiana friends Saturday.  Fished good, but not great.  Fish seemed to be spotty.  Catch several fish fast and furious, then nothing.  Change locations or flies and another flurry.  Still catching lots of  “dinks”, but also caught several nice ones.  Most of the fish Saturday were caught on a size 14 Hare’s Ear nymph, the primrose & pearl midge, a chamois worm, and a hot pink San Juan.  James Albert caught a couple nice ones on a sculpin pattern.

LEGAIL WITH 17" RAINBOW!

Stan had Larry and Legail on the water Sunday.  They are from an area outside St. Louis, Missouri.  Generation was at the equivalent of one generator running all day.  Good day on the water, with Legail catching the largest, a 17 inch rainbow.  Best patterns were the red midge, a size 16 beadhead Hare’s Ear, and the holographic green crackleback. 

Monday, Carolyn took Sheila and Jerry out for half a day.  This was Sheila’s learn to fly fish day.  We started with the roll cast, of course, then proceeded to the pick up and lay down cast.  Little work on knots.  By this time is was getting colder and standing in the water trying to tie a knot with cold fingers is not a pretty sight!  To be continued…  Caught fish on the copper dun midge (we had caught a little midge flying around and this looked like the color), and finished up the day with an olive filoplume.  Fishing was pretty good, sticking and keeping them stuck was not so good.  Jerry finished up the day with an 10-11 pound (24 inch) beautiful female rainbow…on the olive filoplume.   Good day!

 How about this group of fishers? 

Okay....who's turn to run the boat?

That is the only word to describe what has occurred in only one week.  If I remember correctly, last Thursday, maybe it was Wednesday, as I was driving to work, I looked at my car outside temperature and it was 6 degrees below zero.  Today, as I was driving to work…same time, 7:30 a.m., it said 62 degrees!  What a difference a week makes.  What a weather change.  All week, it has been abolutely wonderful.  Temperatures in the 50s, 60s, and today in the 70s.  Think it is going back to 60s tomorrow, and 50s over the weekend and into next week.  Very little generation most of the week until today!  They projected a low one generator all day, but in fact ran the equivalent of two generators using three.  Projection for tomorrow is a low one generator until noon, when they will, according to the projection!..turn it off for 7-8 hours.   We will see what, in fact, they do run tomorrow….to be continued……

Fishing has been very good, almost great.  Talking to lots of fishers and most of them are catching lots of fish and several of the ones they are catching are in the upper teens to twenty inch range.  Beautiful rainbows, full color and good size.  Catching on lots of patterns.  One fisher came in yesterday and he had a great time on a yellow humpy.  Olive leech pattern, olive wooly buggers, primrose & pearl midge, dark color sculpin, light gray scuds, white and olive 100th oz. jigs, McCune sculpin as well as the olive wool head sculpin.   And, of course, the holographic green crackleback!  Had one customer call me today to say how great the fishing was.  He and hie wife caught several rainbows in the upper teens and 20s on the holographic green crackleback yesterday.  Said fish were taking them dry as well as stripping sub-surface.   They were really excited and happy, as are many other fishers.  Even with the water running today, and limited space for many fishers to wet a line, those fishing were catching good numbers of fish.

In the middle of February you have to say this was a perfect weekend….especially after subzero temperatures and lots and lots of snow!  Temperatures were in the low 50s, no generation after 10:00 a.m. and the fish were happy.  And, we can expect more of the same as far as the weather goes.  Generation is another story, but at least for Sunday, with no generation and the projection for Monday is what we have been experiencing for the past few weeks, some generation in the a.m., usually off by 10:00 a.m. and off for 8 hours or so.  This gives us time to wade fish.  with the great weather forecast for this week, 50s, 60s, what more can you ask for. 

Two boats on the water today.  Jim had Malcolm and Dan from the St Louis area out all day.  They had a very good day on the gray scud, olive bug-eyed bugger and a red midge.  Did have generation when they started out this morning, but it shut down at 10:00 a.m. 

Paul - 2/12/11

Stan was on the water with Paul and Bill.  Also a very good day on the black midge, size 18, in the morning and the size 18 primrose & pearl midge in the afternoon.  

 I even ventured out for a couple hours and also had a very good day.  Caught quite a few “dinks”, but also landed several nice, 17 inches up, on a holographic green crackleback using the sinking leader.   Beautiful, great day on the water!

Sun shining all day…snow melting, of course after some heavy shoveling!  It did reach the upper 20s today and we really have had some good melting.  Supposed to be warmer tomorrow, the next day, and the next day…. I’m hearing rumors of 50s and 60s.  No generation today and tomorrow the projection is for an 8 hours window after 10:00 a.m. 

A few brave souls were actually out fishing today.  They managed to get to the water.  For one, it was worth it.  After catching 30 some fish, he hooked the 20 inch male rainbow.  Came in to get his Trophy Trout Pin.  Congratulations Kirk!  He caught it on the size 18 rusty midge.  He also caught some on the burgundy midge as well as a few on the holographic green crackleback using the sinking leader.

Well, if it is any consolation, they have not been running a lot of water the past two days and the projection for tomorrow is no generation at all.  Now for the rest of the story….Looking out the door, I see about five inches of white stuff on the railing.  However, once we get through tonight’s single digit temperature, looks like low 30s tomorrow, upper 30s Friday, 40s Saturday and 50s Sunday, with next week looking like a warm up…..PLEASE!  I need some R&R on the river. 

Not too much to report on fishing.  Did have one of our customers come into the store yesterday to restock on black wooly buggers and cerise fat worms.  He has been catching fish on both at the Lookout area.  Said almost all of the rainbows he is catching are in spawn.  Males “milking” or eggs falling out of the females.  Great color and good size.  Same report from another fisher earlier in the week.  Also talked to a couple of the guys who work at the hatchery.  They are starting to see more shad than they had a couple weeks ago.  Dig out that white grub “Killer” pattern!