Other than Tuesday, we have had lots of opportunities to wade in the mornings this past week. Most days, and today included, the generators have been off until around 2:00 p.m. each day. Weather has been great. Today is a bit breezy and we are expecting some rain tonight which might go into tomorrow. Temperatures, after this front goes through, should be more seasonal, in the 70s for the day time high. Possibility of some showers on Sunday.
Jim – 9/19/10
Gina on the water Sunday with Jim and Linda from Kansas. They had a good, fun day on the water. Linda wanted to work on her casting, and they definitely made progress there. Their fish catching in the Rocking Chair area was on the primrose & pearl midge and olive bugger. When the water came on, they drifted on down and successfully worked the olive floozie.
Monday was a busy day. Stan out with Larry and Moe from Kansas for half a day. Larry started fishing with us in 2004 and started Moe with us in 2006. Monday started out slow for them. When they did get into some good fishing, it was pretty late in the morning and they needed to get on the road early. Short but good. Best patterns were the primrose & pearl and red midges.
Robert – 9/20/10
Robert, from Illinois, was on the water all day with Carolyn. He completed the Orvis Fly Fishing course at Dogwood Canyon several years ago and tries to fish with us once a year. Early morning got off to a slow start, picked a few fish on a black wooly bugger and a black midge. After several midge color changes, the rusty midge was the ticket until the water came on. One of the day’s highlights was spotting a very nice brown which we threw a few patterns at until he decided to leave the area….enough of us! Robert did catch a nice 17 inch rainbow. Finished up the day with the big ruby and a cerise San Juan worm dropper. Turned out being a good day. Jim and Dale from here in Missouri went streamer stripping. They pulled streamers all day with the best being a dark rabbit sculpin in a size 6. Dale pulled a nice 20 inch rainbow out on this pattern.
Tuesday we had generation all day. Stan took Ed and Ken, from Alabama out for a full day float. They had a good day on the holographic green crackleback, primrose & pearl and red midges. Brent and Janie from Texas spent the morning with Jim. They are pretty new to fly fishing, so Jim worked with them on casting, line work and techniques, plus catching. Their best patterns were the red midge and gray scud.
Bruce – 9/22/10
Wednesday we saw the start of another "stripper" on Taneycomo. Carolyn had Bruce and Jan from Colorado. A little slow again in the early morning. Once we put a little ugly midge under the "Bug Ugly", this was the combo. Finished up the day stipping various patterns, the floozie, crackleback, and the best out of the lot was the 56er. Jan had never fished this way before and she liked it! Every hookup brought a happy, excited noise while she was bringing in the fish! It was great! Caught several "rodeos" too (fish on for 8 seconds or more before getting off). Jim had Bill from Arizona out all day. they had a good day on a gray scud, the miracle scud, gray sculpin, and black midge with a blood worm dropper. Stan also out all day. He had Ron and Denny from Iowa out. This was a first time for Denny and he loves it. He had several "rodeo" fish too. They stripped the holographic green crackleback using the intermediate sink tip line, and also caught several on the burgundy midge, size 18. Lots of moving around and trying different patterns to find the spot and pattern the fish are wanting right now. Many of the hits are very soft, so I suspect fishers who are not catching many fish are possibly just missing the hits. Once you find the spot and/or pattern, fishing is pretty good!
Seeing and hearing about a few nice browns. No great numbers yet. Most fishers are still fishing for them at night and understand last night was pretty slow. One of our customers caught a nice 24 inch rainbow Monday on a size 18 copper dun midge in the Rocking Chair area.
Certainly could not tell that Fall is almost upon us by the weather. Yesterday was in the low 90s, today will be in the 90s and I think they are projecting the same for tomorrow. Oh well, should not complain. We will be wishing for days like this come January and February. Water off most of today, except for 1-2 hours late this afternoon. Tomorrow the projection is for the water to be off until 3:00 p.m. when it will come on for 6-7 hours, then off. As we always say about Mondays, we’ll see.
Yesterday morning, Jim had Ken and Ethan, from Columbia on the water. Ethan is new to fly fishing, so Jim took him through the basics process. They had a good day catching too on the black zebra, blood worm and gray scud. Stan had Gary and Kent out all day. These guys are from up around the Kansas City area. They had a great catching day too. Black zebra in the early part of the day, Primrose & Pearl midge and gray scud later in the morning and early afternoon. Also did well with the holographic green crackleback and stripping a 56er. We are seeing a few browns. Nothing consistently in big numbers, but a few here and there. Also know that some of the fishers out there in the dark are doing good night fishing for browns.
Yesterday was another beautiful day to be on the water. Probably in the upper 80s, maybe low 90s. Water was off until 3:00 p.m. and we are experiencing off water again today. Think they are scheduled to turn it on some time this afternoon for a few hours, then back off. Weather forecast this morning shows no rain until mid week, and then just a chance. Right now it looks like next weekend will be a repeat of this weekend.
Mel – 9/17/10
Darrell on the water with Mike and Mel from the St. Louis area yesterday. They had a fun day using the Primrose & pearl and copper dun midges, and a gray scud. Gina also on the water for half a day with Gail and Carole. Gail is a full-time RVer and Carole is from New Jersey. Carole loves this area, especially the fishing, and is looking for a place to live as I write. Both are new to fly fishing and they had a wonderful day. Best patterns were the floozie, burgundy an primrose and pearl midges, and a tan scud. Carole is especially fond of the floozie. Looks like another "stripper" in the making!
Duffy said yesterday was a perfect day for him. He got to fish no generation, the rise with low generation, and the fall (they barely had it on for two hours) …….all in the same day. other than Wednesday, no generation on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or this morning. We are expecting generation this afternoon around 3:00 when they will start ramping up to what looks like four generators. However, generation should be on for only five hours so it might be off tonight. Weather had been absolutely beautiful. A little threat of rain Wednesday, but it went on by us and temperatures have been in the 80s with the same in the forecast.
Stan took Millie and John from Florida out all day Wednesday. This was Millie’s first time and she almost outfished John. She had one real nice one on for a bit on but froze up and away he went! Best flies were the ruby and primrose & pearl midges and the holographic green crackleback.
Bud and Welby came back for another half day with Jim. They had a good morning on the black zebra, blood worm dropper and a gray scud.
After the rains left, we have had some beautiful days. Warm, but not too warm, and sunny days with just a little breeze. Water, however, has been spastic! Thursday, it was off until 5:00 p.m.; came on for a couple hours then off the rest of the day. Friday, it came on at 5:00 a.m. They ramped it up to the equivalent of three generators and turned it off around 7:00 p.m. Saturday, it came on at 5:00 a.m. again and stayed on until around 1:00 p.m. Similar pattern again on Sunday. Projection is for it to be off most of today.
Stan on the water Friday with Jim from North Carolina. Once he got the hook set down, he had a good day on the red midge, holographic green crackleback and the 76er (don’t ask).
Saturday, Carolyn out with a couple young folks from Arkansas, Cierra and Alex. Cierra’s father, Brian, came along to help corral the young folks…..thank you Brian. Slow day for us. We had a few hits and fish drifting down to the Lookout Island on the bug ruby and hot pink San Juan worm. Didn’t even see many people catching fish as we were drifting down. Caught a few more at the Island on the Primrose & Pearl midge with a size 20 primrose dropper. Darrell had Malcomb and Scott, from the St. Louis area on the water all day. They caught some in the upper area of the river, but did best at the bend above Fall Creek where the Primrose & Pearl midge was hot. Earlier they picked some around the Island onthe holographic green crackleback and big/small ruby midges.
Beautiful day today. Sun is shinning, pleasant temperatures, light breeze. Possibility of more rain tomorrow, but right now it looks like it might be north of us. Hope it is. Had the generators off this morning until 6:00 a.m. Turned on two, running at the equivalent of one. They will ramped up to the equivalent of three by 2:00 or 3:00 p.m. today. As expected, Table Rock Lake came up a foot from the recent rains. We will see a little more increase due to the run off from all the rivers and streams running into Table Rock.
Have to let you know that everyone who braved the rain yesterday with the water off, had a wonderful day on the water. They said the fish were chasing and taking everything. Red, copper dun, black midges; gray scuds as well as tan; olive wooly buggers, cracklebacks. It was just a great day. One guy even caught a nice bass while stripping his olive wooly bugger!
Rain started here last last night and it is still raining. Supposed to rain most of today, but tomorrow looks like it will be a lovely day. Chance of some scattered showers Saturday, but after that the weather looks wonderful again. At least for a while. Generators are off today, as projected. It will be interesting to see what tomorrow will bring as Table Rock Lake has come up 4/10s of a foot since midnight. At 11:40 a.m. Table Rock is 915.0. Break time in between finishing this and they did turn on two generators this afternoon.
Stan on the water Wednesday morning with Chuck from northern Missouri and his friend Sarah. Sarah is originally from Washington and has been flying a helicopter locally. Thanks to Chuck she found a bigger and better job in Oregon, so she will soon be moving closer to home. She said she could see all the people fishing on the river when she would fly over in the helicopter, so Chuck brought her along to try it. Think she liked it. their best patterns were the big ruby with the size 18 ruby dropper. Gina also on the water for half a day. She took Ricky and Lisa from Tennessee out to teach them how to fly fish and catch a few fish. They hope to fish in some of their waters at home. They worked on all the basics and hooked, missed and brought in some fish. Best patterns were the big ruby, size 18 ruby and the red tungsten beadhead midge. Looks like they got off to a good start with their fly fishing!
Lisa – 9/8/10
Ricky – 9/8/10
Darrell and Dana had a group of guys from Tennessee and here in the Missouri out all day. They barely made it in before the rain hit. Darrell had Todd and Jim. Believe they have fly fished before. Their best patterns were the pink San Juan worm and the holographic green crackleback. Dana’s guys, Phil and Junior caught fish on a red San Juan worm and the red midge. A fun and fishy day was had by all.
Junior – 9/8/10
Phil – 9/8/10
For those who were brave enough to be fishing in the rain today, I heard from several of our customers that fishing was great. Ruby midge, olive wooly bugger, gray scuds, San Juan worms, just to name a few of the patterns they were catching on. One of the guys even caught a nice bass on an olive wooly bugger.
Other than Monday, they have been pretty nice with the generation schedule for the past five days. Friday saw low one generator on for a couple hours, as well as Saturday and Sunday. Monday they turned it on early and left it on all day. Tuesday irt was off until 2:00 pm. and has not been off since. Table Rock is at 914.6, less than a half a foot below power pool. The rain we received Thursday night took the levek up about 1-1/2 feet. Heavy rain is in the forecast for tonight and showers most of tomorrow. Cross your fingers that we don’t get too much rain as we could see the generators running more to keep the lake at the desired level. Right now, fishing is still fair to good. You just have to find the fish and get the right pattern to them. Past three days, the ruby midge has done very well.
Fishing good on Sunday. Stan had Pat, from Kentuky out again. Pat fished with us the first time in 2008. He and his wife fished four generators and five flood gates. They couldn’t believe they were catching fish. They came back in 2009 and saw a completely different river. No generators when they started but they started up a couple before they got off the water. Marge could not make it this time….sorry Marge. Hope we see you and Pat next year, or before. Pat had some very good days on the river by himself. He had to buy a drift boat after he had been out with Stan. They float their rivers in Kentucky. Had another good day with Stan Friday on the red midge and really enjoyed the new experience of stripping the holographic green crackleback.
Monday we saw two generators running. Jim had a half day with Gary and Shari from Kansas. Gary had fly fished some before, but it was Shari’s first experience. They had a good day on the red midge, gray scud, orange and pink San Juan worms, and a brown bug eye bugger. Darrell, Carolyn and Stan had a group from Arkansas. Jeff and his son, Nathaniel have fished several times in the past with Darrell. They brought their friends, Chris and his sons, Caleb and Nathan. Everyone had a good day. Darrell had two of the boys, Nathan and Nathaniel. Of course, they were in a race to see who could catch the most. Not certain who won that one. They caught fish on the red and burgundy midges. We felt sorry for the old man, so we sent him out with only one person, Jeff. Their best patterns were the red midge and the holographic green crackleback. Carolyn drew Chris and his son, Caleb. Chris is a good fly fisher, and Caleb is coming along. We boated, and missed lots of fish on the olive floozie, big ruby and #18 ruby and burgundy midge droppers. Not going to say much about the one that got away!
Rex – 9/7/10
Tuesday, Dana took Rex and Patty from Kansas out for half a day. Rex managed to boat all hits and a few on, but they just kept on going. She said next time she comes to fish she is going to leave Rex on the bank so she can catch the fish!
Weather has been almost perfect. Temperatures in the 80s during the day, maybe low 90s. Couple mornings it was actually in the upper 50s. The only thing one could complain about was the wind. It has been a bit windy the past three days. The generation has even been agreeable. Friday we just had one generator come on at 4:00 p.m. for a couple hours; Saturday it did not come on until 9:00 p.m. and today one came on at 2:00 p.m. Don’t have a clue what it will be tomorrow as we cannot get the projection on the web site and the phone number does not answer. So…..we will just have to wait and see.
Friday Jim has Dean and Bev from Arkansas on the water for a half day in the morning. As I mentioned, it was a bit windy, so that made casting a little difficult. Fish were spotty, but they found some on the size 18 rusty midge, blood worm dropper and the size 18 black midge. Darrell and Carolyn had the Louisiana family on the water all day Friday. Dawn was in the boat with Carolyn and the guys, Albert and James Albert, went with Darrell. Don’t think the guys wanted to be in the "Cacklecraft". If course, it lived up to its name. Dawn and Carolyn has a great day on the size 18 black midge, primrose & pearl midge, black wooly bugger, filoplume, size 12 holographic green crackleback, but especially the olive floozie on the sinking leader. The floozie strikes again! She caught three nice 17 inch rainbows among her many fish for the day. Darrell and his guys also had a great day on the primrose & pearl midge and a large olive wooly bugger on which James Albert pulled out a nice 19 inch rainbow. Gina was out with Dale and Glenn from Oklahoma. They had a wonderful day too on the primrose & pearl and burgundy midges.
Dawn – 9/3/10
James Albert – 9/3/10
Dale 9/3/2010
Saturday, Carolyn had Pricilla and Vic, from Indiana out again. They took the two-day school last year, and came back for a refresher. We put Vic on a sinking leader and had him catching fish on a black wooly bugger, and the olive size 12 filoplume. Pricilla did best on the size 18 black midge. Jim had John from Oak Grove out on a 1/2 day wade trip. John wanted to learn how fish Taneycomo a little better. Said he accomplished this and more. They did well on the black midge with the blood worm dropper, a size 18 gray scud and a size 16 miracle scud.
Sunday, Jim on the water for a half day instructional wade trip with Mike from Arkansas. Mike worked on all his skills and Jim said he was a good student. They even caught fish! Best pattern was a size 16 gray scud and a size 20 gray scud. Darrell and Carolyn had a new family on the river from Louisiana. Darrell had the father, Clay and their daughter Elizabeth in his boat. Carolyn had the mother, Allison, and Clayton in her boat. both Clay and Elizabeth were a bit under the weather, but they stuck with it until both of them had caught some fish. Their best fly was the size 18 ruby midge. Allison and Clayton were not under the weather, and feeling fine. Carolyn had them out wading as they are both brand new to fly fishing. Worked on roll cast, pick up and lay down cast, and a little on line management. Had to hook some fish so they could work on hooking, playing and landing a fish. Little 10 year old Clayton did great casting, setting the hook and bring in at least three fish all on his own. Allison fell in love with fly fishing the minute she felt her first fish on the fly rod. Fun morning on the water. The size 18 ruby midge, a size 16 gray scud, and the holographic green crackleback stripped on the sinking leader were our best patterns.
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