Checked the projection hoping they would give us a present for Christmas Day…..no generation.  According to the projection, they will be running one generator.  If we have the extremely cold weather the weather folks are forecasting, they will probably generate more than that to provide power for heat.  Not too many fishing today.  Probably getting ready for Christmas eve.  

WE WILL BE CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY.  HOPE TO SEE YOUR SMILING FACES ON SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26, 2009.  WE WILL BE OPEN FOR OUR NORMAL HOURS!

MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS!!

We want to take the opportunity to thank all our friends for their support over the years.  From all the gang at River Run Outfitters, Shannon, Darrell, Stan, Gina, Carolyn, Dana, Jim, and last but not least, Caddis, we hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas.  We wish you health, happiness and many days standing in the water catching the fish of your dreams for the New Year 2010!

This weekend, they have projected 25 mwh of generation 24/7, and it appears that is what they are running.  Right now, there is one generator going with a level of 703.5.  Expect that is what we will see through Sunday.  Little nippy this morning with the temps on the upper 20s.  Do expect it to get into the 30s before the day is over.

Not too many people on the water,  but for those who are, fishing is not too bad.  One of our customers caught a 20 inch rainbow yesterday morning on a black beadhead wooly bugger and another 20 incher yesterday afternoon on an olive beadhead wooly bugger.  He’s a happy camper.  He and a friend were wade fishing up near the Hatchery Area.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL OUR FRIENDS!!

We want to take the opportunity to thank all our friends for their support over the years.  From all the gang at River Run Outfitters, Shannon, Darrell, Stan, Gina, Carolyn, Dana, Jim, and last but not least, Caddis, we hope you and your families have a very Merry Christmas.  We wish you health, happiness and many days standing in the water catching the fish of your dreams for the New Year 2010!

They continue to run a low two generators every day 24/7 with a few increases throughout the day.  Beaver runs a few hours every day, but not enough to have a significant impact on Table Rock.  Looking at the temperatures in Table Rock Lake, it appears the lake has turned over.  It is now cooler at the surface than at 140 feet and the oxygen levels are good throughout. 

A few brave souls have been fishing around the outlet areas.  Everyone says it is pretty slow.  Catch a few fish then nothing for a while.  Not even seeing many fish in the area.     

I give up.  They continue to generate at least two generators and the Table Rock level is now at 913.2 feet.  Not too great for getting out and fishing this past week into Saturday as it was pretty cold, or wet, or windy!  After today, it will warm up a little and all we can do is keep watching and hoping that they shut off the generation some time soon.

Dana and one of his clients, Marshall, from Oklahoma, braved the (supposed to be nice) cold, drizzly day Saturday.  It was fairly slow pickin’ that day but they did boat some fish on the pink San Juan, the red San Juan and a brown scud.  Some of our regular customers were also on the water and they had a hard time finding many fish. 

"Happy Hooker", "The Stripper" and "Trout Mum"

We did make a rebound on Sunday.  If you thought Mrs. Claus was on the water Sunday, it was three crazy women out chasing trout.  They did wish they had some rain deer to pull the drift boat so they could fish more instead of rowing.  Trout Mum hooked up first on a red midge.  Beautifully colored, nice Rainbow.  We proceeded to catch fish on red midges, pink or orange San Juan worms as well as the chamois worm (got it right that time!) and really had a fun day.  Stan was out with friends, Bob and Linda from Kansas.  They caught fish on all of the above plus a black wooly bugger.  Dawn’s son, James Albert and significant other, Albert, were at Lookout Island catching fish, also on all of the above.  I believe James Albert even caught a few on a dry. 

  Nice 17 incher!

Gina and Carolyn finished up the day at the gravel bar above Fall Creek stripping the holographic green crackleback.   The day started out a bit cold and nippy but ended on a perfect note!

Thought it was cold over the weekend but with the wind blowing 20-30 mph this morning and the temperature in the teens, it was REALLY cold!  We are expecting a single digit for tonight’s temp.  Actually saw snow flakes on my way into the shop this morning!  Too soon….not ready for this!  Table Rock continues to run water even thought the lake level is now down to 913.8 feet.  This morning when I checked at 8:00 a.m., they were running four generators and the tailwater level was at 707.2.  This is pretty much in line with the projection for today.  The equivalent of one generator from midnight to 7:00 a.m. when they would run the equivalent of two to three generators for three hours then back to one. 

Better layer up if you are going to hit the water over the next few days.  One of the layers many people ignore is the one next to the skin, the inner layer.  Wear something that will wick or move perspiration away from the skin such as a light weight polypropylene, polyester or silk.  Many of these products will state that they "wick".  Over this add your insulating layer such as thermal underwear in a weight best for the temperature and level of activity you will be in.  Generally, light to mid-weight thermal underwear is adequate for our fishing conditions here.  Over this, your normal wear such as shirts, sweathers, pants, etc.  Last, but not least, a shell which will protect from the wind, rain or snow.  Good idea to again look at items which breath as well as protect.   AND, don’t forget your head.  Wear a cap, hat or something to keep down the heat loss through your head.  Hands…..I can’t function when my hands get cold.  I always keep a couple heat packs in my pockets so I can put my hands in there and warm them up.  Carry a towel so you can keep your hands dry.  Once they get cold, you’re dead meat!  If you can function with gloves on, this is a good idea, then you can put your heat packs on the back of your hand inside the glove or at the wrist area, depending on how your gloves fit.  By all means, keep a set in your pocket.  According to the weather station this morning, we should see the 40s again by the weekend.  Certainly hope so. 

Jim and Kevin, from Sullivan, Missouri, ventured out all day this past Saturday.  Kevin was so happy we had a guide crazy enough to "hang tuff and stay out the entire day with him".  They caught fish on the red midge, orange San Juan and chamoise worm. 

Shiver!  Came into work this morning and my car was registering 16 degrees!  It is supposed to warm up both today and tomorrow to the lower to mid 40s.  Think we have a chance for some type of precipitation by Tuesday.  Sounds like water is running everywhere.  They have even opened the gates on Greer’s Ferry which is the source for the Little Red.  We are still running a low four generators at a tailwater level fluctuating between 706 and 707 feet.  Unfortunately, that is the projection through the weekend. 

Stan was on the water Thursday with Don Ballard, a Congressional Medal of Honor recipient for his brave actions during the Vietnam War.  He and his friend, Carrol, are both from Missouri.  They were here for all the activities at College of the Ozarks earlier in the week.  Don wanted to try his hand at fly fishing, so out they went.  Great guys!  Pretty brisk that afternoon, so they went out for a quick float, caught fish on the high-water ruby midge, learned a lot and drifted on it. 

With the water running, most folks….and there are not too many of them….are fishing around the outlet area.  Couple of our customers have been in and reported they have been doing very well on the bright pink San Juan worm as well as the chamoise worm.  The one fellow had caught a couple nice browns that he estimated would be in the 20 inch range. 

After such as warm weekend, the temperatures are really cooling down.  50s yesterday, 40s today and 40s projected for the balance of the week.  Only chance of moisture is projected for today.  Not sure why, but they have been generating 2-3 generators since 5:00 p.m. Monday.  Tailwater levels have fluctuated between 704.0 to 707.9 feet.  Table Rock remains stable at 915.0 feet.  Looking at the water temperatures at various levels on Table Rock, it might not be too long before Table Rock turns over.  Will keep you posted on generation projections as I get them.

12/2/09 – 4:43 p.m. – Appears from the SWPA projection that they will run about the same as they did today, all day.

Darrell on the water Monday with Al from the St. Louis area.  They had a good half day on a white midge and the red midge. 

Tuesday Jim was out all day with Jim and Brenda from Butler.  Seems that Brenda out fished Jim again!  Water was fluctuating all day but they pulled off a pretty good day.  Landed fish on the red midge, red San Juan and a gray midge. 

. 

Great break on water flow for from Thanksgiving Day through the weekend, and, today, the water is off and projected to be off until some time this afternoon.  Hate to say what the projection is as they have been an hour or two or three ahead of their projections the past few days.  But, we are getting off water in the mornings.  Weather both Friday and Saturday was unbelieveable!  Upper 60s Friday and low 70s Saturday with lots of sunshine!  Only rain in the forecast for this week is on Wednesday.  Otherwise, it will be in the 30s to 40s at night and 50s during they day.  Table Rock Lake is holding on the 915 foot range so we might start to see the off for a while in the a.m., on some time from mid-day to early afternoon then back off late at night. 

Darrell was on the water all day the Wednesday before Thanksgiving.  He and Greg, from Texas had a pretty good day despite the early spike in water flow (up to 709.5 feet) then drop back to nothing within two hours.  Their best fly was the red midge.  Greg wanted to learn the water so he could fish for a few days on his own.  He and his wife spent Thanksgiving day and weekend in one of our cabins.  Dana was our with D.A. and his son, Kurt.  D.A. is from Springfield.  They had a pretty good half day on the olive/brown scud, and the red and ruby midges. 

Friday we have three boats on the water.  Darrell was out for half day with Joe from OK.  They did well on the black or red midges.  Stan and Carolyn were both out for full days.  Brandon and his mother, Brenda have spent the last three Thanksgiving weekends with Stan.  This is a neat time for them to spend some time together.  Good day on the Primrose & Pearl midge, ruby midge and white grub.  Every year, Brenda catches a few more fish than she did the year before.  Keep practicing Brenda!  Carolyn had Ron and Kathy from LA out again.  They had a wonderful day enjoying the warm weather and catching fish on the ruby midge and holographic green crackleback.  Finished up at dusk with the white grub.

Saturday we covered the water with drift boats.  Carolyn had Mike and Trish out all day.  Another fun pair to fish with.  These folks are from TX and have fished with Carolyn since 2007.  They had a very good day throwing the bug-eyed bugger, holographic green crackleback and the ruby midge.  Meanwhile, Gina hit the water with Bella, originally from LA and recently moved to Branson.  First time fly fishing in 20 years.  Nice southern lady who loves to fish.  Gina spent some time her working on skills and catching fish on the red or black midges.  Dana and Darrell had two couples, Mac and Betty and Bill and Kourtenay.  Mac and Betty originally lived in KS but are not residents of Branson.  Bill and Kourtenay were visint them from KS.  Dana got the ladies and Darrell had the guys.  Everyone had a good time and caught fish on the red San Juan worm, Primrose & Pearl midge and the shammy worm, especially when they kick on the water!  Kourtenay didn’t hook any on dries, but had lots of hits on a black ant.  Stan was out half a day with Roger and his grandson, Riley .  Lots of hits and lots of fish on the orange San Juan, a size 18 parachute Adams, and red midge. 

All in all, fishing is very good.  Sometimes you have to be in the right place, so move around.  From speaking to several folks coming into the shop to buy flies and other items, fish are hitting on lots of patterns.  It was especially great to see the number of people getting hits and catching fish on dries.  In addition to the parachute Adams, other patterns were the Big Ugly and the griffith’s gnat.

So far, the projections each day have been a bit off!  Yesterday, they projected only three hours of generation in the morning and off the balance of the day  Wrong.  They had it off, turned it on, then off, then back on again and kept it on all day.  Today it should have been the equivalent of three generators, but they turned on all four and really cranked out the water.  The good news is it is now off and we hope they follow their schedule and keep it off the rest of the day.  Sun in shing and temps should be in the upper 50s today.  Tomorrow is going to be in the upper 40s, but sunshine.  Friday will be in lower 60s with sunshine.  Have no idea what the water will be doing either days but hope they at least have it off for Thanksgiving!

With the generators off or at a low two, fishing has been great.  However, a couple days it depended on where you were in the river.  One of the days, fishing above the boat ramp all the way up to the Hatchery was so, so.  Down below the boat ramp along the low bank from the now Trophy Run area all the way down to the gravel bar up and oppostie side from where Fall Creek boat dock was fished great.  Dry flies, such as an 18 parachute Adams, or size 16 Elk Hair Caddis, and I’m sure other patterns would have worked, but these for certain.  Almost everything else such as the size 18 ruby midge, copper dun midge, filoplume, olive wooly bugger were also working great.  A  gentleman came in this morning and said he was catching them on a size 16 Prince Nymph which he normally uses for weight and drops midge below it, but they were hitting the Prince Nymph best. 

WE WILL BE CLOSED AT 3:00 P.M. ON WEDNESDAY, 11/25 AND ALL DAY THURSDAY – THANKSGIVING, 11/26  SEE YOU FRIDAY AFTER THANKSGIVING!  HAVE A WONDERFUL TURKEY DAY!

Currently they are running one generator with the level at tailwater below the dam staying pretty steady at 703.9 feet.  They are projecting this flow for the entire day while they are working on the boards at Powersite Dam.  Won’t know what they "plan" to do tomorrow until late this afternoon.  Sun is shining and the temps are supposed to be in the lower 60s.

Everyone we passed as we were rowing upstream yesterday had a smile on their face.  Even commented to a couple gentlemen about how happy they looked and their responses were pretty much, "yes, it has been a while since we have been able to fish!"  Our Louisiana family, Dawn, Albert and James Albert were out with Darrell and Carolyn all day.  Other than some hefty breezes off and on during the day, it was wonderful.  Warm sunshine, water off but a good flow, AND the fish were happy.  Everyone had a great day catching lots of fish on almost everything.  Of course, Dawn, aka "The Stripper" was throwing olive wooly buggers and the olive filoplume, with the filoplume working the best of these two.  Early in the day, she got her first experience throwing soft hackles.  Fish were coming up pretty good in the shallow areas, so after catching a few midges in our caps, opted to throw a size 18 black soft hackle.  Sure enough, she hooked and brought in her first Rainbow on the soft hackle.  Meanwhile, Darrell, Albert and James Albert were up in the Rockin Chair area catching fish on the white grub and the ruby midge.  After enough wind in the upper area, Carolyn and Dawn rowed down to the now Trophy Run area and settled down stripping the bugger and filoplume.  Fish were wanting both stripped real slow using the intermediate sinking leader.  Darrell and the guys rowed down to the old KOA narrows area and homesteaded.  They spent the balance of the afternoon there catching fish on the ruby midge with a copper dun midge dropper.  Dawn and Carolyn rowed back up there and fished and caught on the ruby midge for a while.  Fish were really working the edges, so James Albert started wading the banks and caught a nice 22" Rainbow on one of his sculpin patterns.  Happy guy!  Just a little before we decided it was leaving time, Carolyn put a chain-eye pine squirrel scuplin back on Dawn’s line so she could finish her day stripping.  Eight casts, eight fish.  What a way to end the day.  Almost all the fish we caught throughout the day were nice and running in the 14 to 17 inch range.  Most looked very healthy, good girths and great color.  One of those days to put in your memory bank!

                                     James Albert – 11/22/09