So far this week….knock on wood….they have followed the projected generation schedule pretty well.  Off in the mornings from midnight to 6:00 a.m. when they turn on a low one generator for an hour or less.  Stays off until 1:00-2:00 p.m. they start ramping up until all four generators are going.  Around 7:00 p.m. they start shutting down so the tailwater level is back to a level of 701.6 around midnight.  Weather is still hot.  Temperatures in the 90s and heat indexes in the 100s.  Little breeze yesterday which helped a little.

Mixed stories on fishing as the week goes on.  Some folks are having a hard time, but Monday and Tuesday, those folks fishing in the hatchery area were catching fish on the light gray size 16 and smaller scud or sowbugs.  One customer reported a very good day just above the boat ramp on a size 14 olive wooly bugger.  Today it has been the dark gray scud and a size 14 and up to size 8 olive wooly bugger.  Think some of the difficulty some are having is where they are fishing.  Need to move around a little to find the fish.

Dana on the water Monday with Dana and her friend Annika, from Denmark.  This was a total surprise for Annika as they had not told her what she was going to be doing Monday morning.  She and Dana had a good time and caught fish on the red midge and copper dun midge, size 18.  She was really catching on to casting before the morning was over.  Stan had Craig and Trey, from Texas out for half a day.  This was their first experience too, and they caught fish on the primrose & pearl size 18 midge. 

Trent – 7/20/10

Darrell took Trent from Minnesota out for half a day Tuesday.  Trent is pretty new to fly fishing, so he learned a lot and caught some nice fish.  Best fish of the day was the 22 inch rainbow he hooked on the size 18 purple midge.  Way to go Trent!

Typical July weather, except we have have over five inches of rain this month.  Looks like it will continue to be mostly sunny and hot until the weekend when we have a chance of showers.  That’s a long way off, so it remains to be seen.  Generation pattern this past week was on all day except for Tuesday morning when the generators were off until 1:00 p.m.  This weekend we had no generation until early afternoon both days.  This was great!  

Kelton – 7/16/10

Friday, Darrell was out for 1/2 a day with James and Kelton from Arkansas.  They had a good trip on the holographic crackleback and the big Ruby midge, both before and after they turned on the water.  Stan half half a day with Kurt, from Oklahoma, and David from Kansas.  Both these guys are pretty new to the sport and did well on the natural colored worm under a size 14 gray scud.  They did best on the holographic green crackleback under the intermediate sinking line. 

Saturday, Carolyn had Rick and Kristy from the St. Louis area out for what wound up to be a full day wade/float.  They had a great time on the primrose & pearl midge, callibaetis soft hackle size 18, olive floozieplume, and scuplin patterns.  Wish we could have stuck all the hits we had on the sculpin, but they were short taking several of the hits.  Wasted no time, however, on the other patterns.  When the water came on about 1:00 p.m. the rise fished very good with the primrose & pearl and our high-water go to setup, the big hot pink midge with a hot pink San Juan dropper.  That’s when we decided to ride out the rise and make it a full day.  Fished great the rest of the day as we picked up several more on the high-water go to setup and the floozieplume.   Jim had Price and Marge from Kansas out for half a day.  They did well on the size 18 rusty or black midges with the size 22 blood worm dropper.  As always, they had a great time with Jim.

Sunday, we saw one of our customers who has greatly cut back on his fishing time since "the twins".  Good to see him with a fly rod in his hand again!.  Mario, from the Springfield area, brought his father, Mario, so the two of them could spend a half a day fishing with Stan.  This was Mario Senior’s first time with a fly rod.  With a little instruction he did land his first fish on a fly rod.  They did well on the primrose & pearl and purple size 18 midges.   And then there was the Stripper, Albert and James Albert from Louisiana.  They were on the water all day with Darrell and Carolyn.  The guys were catching fish on almost anything they tried, but best were the primrose & pearl and purple midges, size 18 with the water off.  Then the ruby, size 12 when the water came on.  Meanwhile, the Stripper and Carolyn spotted fish feeding in about 1-1/2 feet of water and started throwing soft hackles and the L’il Easy at them.  What a hoot watching the wake of the fish as they chased the L’il Easy to eventually take it!   Also did well on the floozieplume and sculpin patterns.  High-water setup worked when the water came on, but the water was so gunked up and dirty, it was hard keeping a clean fly in the water.  Did pick up some more on the drift out, but nothing like we had done with the low water.

Generation has continued 24/7 sinceTuesday afternoon.  So far, it has been fairly in the mornings, then ramping up to 3 or 4 generators in the afternoon.  Table Rock has only come up 2/10ths of a foot after all the rain we earlier this week.  It has been pretty hot out on the water, but we are expecting some rain this afternoon ot tonight which they say will cool us down a little…..Hope so!

Lots of fishing and even some catching going on the past couple of days.  Stan was on the water Tuesday with Darren, from Kansas.  We have known Darren from way back in our firefighting/EMT days.  they had a good day on the hot pink midge dropped under the big ruby midge.  Jim was out with Jack who drove here from Indiana.  Their bugs for the trip were a gray scud, the big ruby with a pink San Juan worm dropper. 

Wednesday, Jack drug Jim out again, kicking and screaming.  More fish on pretty much the same bugs as Tuesday.  They had a fun day and even stretched the 1/2 day into a full one. 

Jack (the one w/Darrell)

 Meanwhile, Darrell had Jack from Texas out for 1/2 a day to teach him the fine art of fly fishing.   Not only did he learn a lot, but boated several fish on the hot pink midge under the big ruby.  Stan was having Matt, from Michigan throw the same bugs with good results. 

Fishers managed to get through yesterday without much rain.  However, the sky opened up last night and we got lots of rain.  Flow projection was pretty much right on this weekend, and this morning flow is a bit higher than projected.  Projected was 25 mwh and it appears we are getting around 50.  This means tailwater level between 704 and 705 fett with 3500 to 4000 cfs.  Scheduled to ramp up to the equivalent of two generators by 2:00 p.m.  With all the rain we received, sure projections will be subject to change as we see the effect of the runoff.

Yesterday was a fish top water or strip something off the bottom.  Everyone we talked to was catching fish. Some definitely more than others.  The scuds, midge, nymph fishers were catching fish, but those using size 16 black ants or beetles, or even a small white dry, and those stripping olive wooly buggers from a size 6 down to a size 14 were doing very well.  Had to pick your spot for the dries…look for the classic nose circles indicating top water feeding to catch on dries, but they were working well and what fun!   Every day is a new day on the water here lately. 

so far this weekend, they have followed their projection.  Water turned offaround 11 p.m. Friday night and stayed off until 2:00 yesterday afternoon.  The equivalent of one generator for five hours, then back off again.  It is off this morning and the projection is for the same pattern as yesterday.  Weather sunny and warm yesterday.  Predicting some rain today, probably this afternoon.

Hearing mixed reports on fishing.  Friday, it was a low two generators most of the day and people were catching fish in the Hatchery area on small, 16 and smaller, dark gray scuds and holographic green cracklebacks.  These were the two main ones we heard of.  Yesterday, one of the guys fishing the Rocking Chair area did well on the Primrose & Pearl midge fishing very shallow 15-17" on the edges of the banks where the fish were working.  Dark gray scuds were still a player in the Hatchery area.  Also heard from some fishers who were struggling.  Said it was "pretty tough".  Couple fishing sculpins and dark olive wooly buggers said they did well and were catching the nice fat fish.

Last Thuraday, Jim had Ray from Kansas, out all day.  They had a fun day on the size 14 ruby midge and a small gray scud.  Little tougher than normal; the fog stayed around longer than usual and the water level was fluctuating most of the day. 

Jim was out half a day with Chuck and his son, Collin, from Texas Friday.  These two are brand new to fly fishing, so Jim worked with them most of the morning on casting and line work.  Did hook some fish on the red midge and gray scud.  Must have been school day.  Gina was also on the water with a new fly fisher, Tom from Aurora.  Tom is Gina’s pharmacists and is going to Montana later this month.  Realized he better learn "the ropes" so he spent the morning with Gina learning the roll cast, pick up and lay down cast.  She also worked with him on handling a sinking line, stripping, mending and indicator fishing.  Think he is going to be ready for Montana.  Landed several fish, so he has worked on hooking and landing fish.  Have a great trip Tom!

EVENT – Every Saturday during month of July, River Run Outfitters is participating in the Orvis "Fly Fishing 101" event.  It consists of free half hour fly casting and leader and knot tying lessions with one of our staff.  Upon completion, you will receive a FREE $15 savings card valid for that day only to put toward purchase of any Orvis product.  Also, a free Trout Unlimited membership valued at $35.   Sessions are only held between 9a.m.-12noon and you must contact us prior to attending to reserve your space.  What a great way to get started in the wonderful sport of fly fishing!

Oops!  Missed the full day trip Dana took out on Monday.  He had Jerry and his wife, Barbara, out for the day.  Barbara really enjoyed the day and she would catch a few fish and then sit back, relax and enjoy the scenery.  They caught fish on the gray scud and a dark gray sow bug.  These folks fish all over the country and enjoyed our fishery.

Tuesday, Stan took Jerry and a friend, Benny out for the day.  Running four generators, but they had a great day on the big ruby midge, a natural San Juan worm, a gray scud, and the olive filoplume.  This was Benny’s first fly fishing adventure and he thinks he is "hooked". 

Still generating all day.  Started out with two this morning until around noon when they turned on one more.  However, the extra generator did not result in much change in the level.  It was 706.0 with two generators and is now 706.9 with three.  Overcast most of today with scattered light showers.  Expecting the same weather for tomorrow.  Will have to see this afternoon around 4:30 what the generation will be for tomorrow.

Another good day on the water yesterday.  Stan and a friend from Texas, Dan, went out around 11:30 a.m.  They caught a lot of nice, fat fish on the olive filoplume, holographic green crackleback, big ruby midge with a big hot pink midge dropper, and gray scud.  Caught fish on other patterns too, but these were the most consistent.  Gina had Valley, from Oklahoma, and one of her relatives, Tim, from Florida out all they.  They had a wonderful day on the "floozieplume" (can’t make up my mind on how to spell this one), gray scud and pink San Juan.  They too experimented with other patterns and caught fish, but these were the most successful. 

Valley – 7/7/10	Tim – 7/7/10

No down time on generation since late Monday night.  Yesterday they started off slow, but before the afternoon was over, they had all four going full blast.  Today, they started off low with two generators, but have now ramped the two generators up so the tailwater level is at 707.0 feet.  Light to heavy showers off and on today, so it is pretty hot and humid!

Wanda – 18-1/2" – 7/5/10

Jim on the water yesterday with Scott and Adria from St. Joseph.  Scott has been fishing with Jim since 2001, and Adria is just getting started.  They had a good day on the small black midge with the blood worm dropper and a size 16 gray scud.  Carolyn had the birthday ladies, Wanda and Joanna out for half a day.  Tried to get them on the water last month (their actual birthday month) but we were blown off thanks to a rain storm.  But as the saying goes, good things come to those who wait.  Nice day of fat rainbows.  Wanda’s 18-1/2 inch rainbow was caught on a size 18 Primrose & Pearl Midge.  They were a bit leader shy that day so she was using 7X.  Other good pattern for the day was a "fluzzieplume".  This is just something in the works.  May be good, may not, we are still testing it.  Did watch one of our customers fishing just below where we were at the Rockin Chair and she was using a size 14 olive wooly bugger and catching fish right and left.  So, it was a good day on the water Monday.

Finally saw some non-generation days starting on July 1 (Thursday) when they had it off from midnight until 11:00 a.m. that morning.  Friday it was off from midnight until 2:00 p.m. and Saturday from midnight to 3:00 p.m.  Monday was low generation, the equivalent of one generator most of the day.  Kept the level around 704 feet until 2:00 p.m. when they raised the level up to 706 feet plus.  So far, dry weather, but we might be getting some showers on a few days this coming week.  

Hubert – 6/29/10

Little behind here, but we will try to get up to date.  Last Tuesday, Stan had George and Hubert, from Lebanon, out for half a day.  They had a wonderful day of nice quality fish on a Big Ruby and the little Ruby.  Meanwhile, Jim had Wayne and Colleen from Hawaii out again.   They spent the day catching fish on the Red Ass soft hackle and size 12 Bug-Eye bugger.  They too, caught some nice quality fish. 

Wayne and Colleen didn’t get their fill of fishing on Tuesday, so they spent another full day with Jim on Thursday.  Best flies this day were the miracle scud and a bug-eye bugger.  Darrell had John and Kyle from the Kansas City area out for half a day.  These guys were brand new and wanted to learn how to fly fish.  They learned and caught.  Good day on the Primrose & Pearl and purple midges. 

Friday had three boats out.  Jay, from Oklahoma, decided he it was time to spend another half day on the water with Jim.  They had a good day on a black midge with a blood worm or ruby midge dropper.  Fishing was a bit slow in the a.m. and fish were taking pretty soft, but they still had a good day.  Darrell was out for half a day with Joe and Erik.  Joe has done some fly fishing and brought his friend, Erik, along to get a taste of it.  These guys from Florida boated lots of fish on the purple midge and an olive filoplume.  Stan was out with John and Carol from the St. Louis area.  This was Carol’s birthday and she caught her first fish on a fly rod. 

Saturday was a tough start.  These fish were not interested in any form of a midge.  Fortunately, in the right place with right pattern such as a sculpin, or other streamer, or using a sinking leader or line to get your pattern down, you could catch some fish.  Stan had Carol and John out again, this time for half a day.  They had a good day on the olive filoplume (using a sinking line), a light olive size, 16 soft hackle, and a size 18 gray scud. 

Carolyn was out for half a day with Rich and his eleven year old daughter, Janet.  Rich has been out with Carolyn a couple times before and decided it was time for Janet to start fly fishing.  She already enjoys fishing and I think she is going to be quite a fly fisher some day…..she already has a very good roll cast!  Their best pattern was the olive filoplume. 

Janet – 7/3/10	Rich – 7/3/10

Tom and Mike from Ft. Lenard Wood, were with Dana for half a day.  Slow start in the early part of the day, but they started picking up fish on the olive filoplume, holographic green crackleback and a gray scud.  Jim and his client, Maynard, from Baldwin were also on the water for half a day.  They did find some fish taking a black midge with a blood worm dropper.  Takes were soft and they were moving the bugs to give them action.  Water was very flat 

Cathy – 7/3/10

Saturday.  They also caught fish on the gray scud.   Cathy, a Navy gal from Nebraska, spend the whole day on the water with Gina.  Not only does she like the water, but loves fly fishing.  They had a fun day with the filoplume, gray scud, and when the water came on, a pink San Juan worm.  She caught a beautiful 18 inch rainbow on a filoplume.

Cathy had such a fun time on Saturday, she spent half a day Sunday on the water with Carolyn.  It was another filoplume day and we threw in a few holographic green cracklebacks when the fish started dimpling the water feeding subsurface.  This was fun as you could see the fish swirl when they were hitting the fly. 

Four units are going already this morning, and the word is that the Corps is beginning a draw down of the reservoirs that should be complete by July 5th.  With the inch of rain over the weekend and the extra water from Beaver Lake, Table Rock is up about 3/10 of a foot for the week.  Despite all this the generation was shut down on Saturday and Sunday from midnight to noon.  So there was good wading this weekend.

The flies that caught fish were the olive, rusty  and red midges , and hot pink San Juan worm. On sinking leaders with streamers, the olive filoplume  and holographic green crackleback, and olive wooly bugger have been hot.  We were fishing high water all week  and drifting the midges and tucking into seams for the streamers. 

At the outlets, we hear from our customers that grey scuds  and brown and peach eggs have fished well.  They haven’t minded the big water because they said the fish they caught were bigger with the water up. 

Last Wednesday Perry and his daughter Brittany who is attending college in Branson went fishing with Stan.   Brittany had studied late for a big exam and then took some time wtih her dad to learn about flyfishing.  The boat ramp was closed Tuesday and Wednesday for paving so Stan put them in downstream and rowed up to Fall Creek.  They just got settled and into fish when the horns sounded!?*#  Such is life on a tailwater.  Perry and Brittany caught fish on the rusty and olive midge. They called it quits a little early and we hope Brittany got a good nap and a good grade on her exam.