With all the rain we had Thursday and Friday, Table Rock Lake has risen to 923 feet and is expected to crest on Tuesday at 927.1.  Yesterday, as two of our guides were putting in their drift boats, they started opening up the flood gates.  Not certain how long they will keep them open, but we will keep you advised.  Beautiful, sunny day yesterday in the low 60s.  Today is also expected to be nice and a slight chance of rain tomorrow.

Darrell had Mark from the St. Louis area out for half a day yesterday.  He and his wife stayed in the Mayfly cabin in June.  They must have liked it as they came back and stayed again.  Caught a few fish on the Big Ruby, including a nice 17" Rainbow.  Stan also had a half a day on the water with Taisha and her father, Jim.  Had a pretty good day with the regular size 16 red tunghead midge.  Found a lot of fish up in the shallow edges right off the grass. 

Meanwhile, Gina and Carolyn were holding an all-day fly fishing clinic.  After the morning session where we go through equipment, fly lines, tippet, leaders, knots, bugs and all the other things, we stopped for lunch then went to the lake to learn casting.  Everyone learned the basic of the roll cast, pick up and lay down cast, and a little on shooting line.  The highlight of the day was putting on various patterns and catching blue gill!  Those little guys are real scrappers.  They were taking our little drifted jig head patterns as well as stripping cracklebacks and small buggers. 

Wow!  Not sure what our official rainfall total was here in Branson.  Guess it depends on where you are and who you listen to.  Anyway, somewhere between 4 and 6 inches.  Table Rock Lake came up one foot from about 8:00 p.m. last night to 9:00 a.m. today.  It will come up some more.  They have actually shut down the generation through the dam, probably to lessen the amount of water at the lower parts of Taneycomo.  Lots of water going into the lower areas from streams which are currently running out of their banks.  We expect the weather to clear up this afternoon and both Saturday and Sunday will be nice, sunny, cool days.  Very slight chance of rain on Monday, otherwise, cool and sunny.  No more rain….please.

 Wednesday was a busy day on the river for us.  Dana was out with Kevin from Texas.  Lots of hits and misses.  Boated fish on Dana’s red San Juan. 

Meanwhile, Gina had Leonard, who originally lived in California and now lives in Sparta, MO., and his daughter Missy on the water for half a day.  Missy lives in California where she is going to school.  Missy loves to fish, especially for bass, but had never been fly fishing.  She loves it!!  They boated several fish on the size 18 copper dun or P&P midges dropped from our "Big" Ruby (just a larger version of the regular Ruby), and a Bug-Eyed Bugger.  

Missy – 10/7/09	"The Team" – 10/7/09

 Both Jim and Stan were out for full days.  Stan had Pete, who started fly fishing in Wyoming and eventually moved to Nebraska.  Their best patterns were the "Big" Ruby with a P&P size 18 midge dropper.  Jim, with Chad and Bob from Joplin, MO. were boating fish on the red midge, size 18 gray scud and the size 18 P&P midge. 

Yesterday, Stan had Dave Ray and Dean Abbot out for half a day.  Brave souls sitting out there in the rain with four generators going.  The fish felt sorry for them and they did boat fish on the Big Ruby.   Said they were used to the rain as they hail out of the state of Washington!

A bit of rain today.  Started early this morning as is still drizzling a little.  Expect sunshine for tomorrow but a possibility of rain again Thurdsay afternoon and Friday.  Have not stopped generation since midnight Friday.  Kept it off for five hours Saturday morning.  Darrell, one of our guides, said they actually had one gate flowing this morning for a while.  Could be good for fishing as that is where all the oxygenated water is right now….on top.  Two generators going today and that is pretty much what they have been running since Saturday afternoon.

Jim out for a tough half day float Sunday with Dwan from Kansas.  They caught a few fish on the red midge and gray scud, but worked for every one of them. 

Roger – 10/5/09

 Yesterday Darrell took his brother-in-law, Roger out to see if they could catch some fish.  Want to keep your brother-in-law happy, hook him up with a nice 19-1/2" Rainbow.

Generation a little squirrely this past week.  Water off Monday until noon, Tuesday until 10:00 a.m. and Wednesday until 3:00 a.m.  And, of course, they ran water all weekend.  Fortunately, after the three generators early Saturday morning, they did keep it at a reasonable one for the balance of the weekend….so far.   This was low enough that lots of people were able to get out and wade in various locations. 

Tuesday, Jim had Ole and Marion from Indiana out for what was supposed to be a full day float.  Had threat of severe weather come through in the afternoon, so they bailed a little early.  With the weather and fluctuating of the water levels, it was a tough day for the guys.  They did get several fish on the red midge, gray scud and a red San Juan worm. 

Friday, Jim braved a heavy wind day and took one of his regulars from Clinton, Missouri, Jim out for a full day.  Good day on the red midge, pink San Juan and size 12 gray scud.  Fished good everywhere they tried.

Saturday, we scattered drift boats everywhere.  The morning started out with three generators going at 8:00 a.m.  It peaked out here for less then an hour and they started dropping it.  By 10:00 a.m. the water had dropped to a below 704 with only one generator for the balance of the day.  It wound up being a perfect day.  Little cool in the morning, but warmed up enough to be pleasant with shirt sleeves, trees are getting a little more colorful and fishing was good with the one generator.  Stan and Jim had a group of two guys from Kansas City, Missouri and one from New York out for a full day.  Stan and Adam had a very good day on the P&P size 18 midge dropped from the ruby midge.  Jim and his guys, Mark and Eric, were catching on gray scuds, blood midge, and the red midge.  Gina had Cliff and Joni out for a half day float.  Cliff is a charter fishing guide in Minnesota.  His wife, Joni, decided she wanted to learn about fly fishing.  They had a good day on a high water ruby midge, with a P&P or pink San Juan dropper.  Carolyn had Rick and Kristie out for a full day.  Once we got started, it was a very good day on the high water ruby midge, with either the P&P or copper dun midge dropper.  Once the water settled down, it fished good everywhere we tried.  Rick started the morning with a 18" Rainbow and they both finished up the day each with a Brown.  Rick’s was 17" and Kristie’s was 18 and FAT!  Both Brown were caught on a size 18 copper dun midge. 

Kristie – 10/3/09	Rick – 10/3/09

Thought we might be going back to an earlier generation pattern of off in the a.m. until noon or later, then on for the balance of the day when we had water off Monday until almost noon and yesterday it did not come on until around 10:00 a.m.  But, alas, water came on this morning at 4:00 a.m.  Projection is for it to be equivalent of one generator all day, but know they are running a little more than than…three generators at a leavel of 705.9.  Looking for some rain this afternoon which could be severe.  Rest of the week and into the weekend looks pretty good.  Next chance of rain is Monday with temps in the low 70s.

Monday was a good day on the water.  Jim had Mike from the Branson area out for half a day.  Mike had previously taken the Orvis Fly Fishing School and wanted some fine tuning.  He had a great day of learning and hooking up with fish.  Their patterns were the size 14 Miracle Scud, micro San Juan and stripping a small sculpin.  Stan was out all day with one of his regulars from Illinois, Robert.  He always trys to come here this time of the year.  Beautiful 19" rainbow on the ruby midge.  Lots of nice fish.  Carolyn had Wanda and Joanna floating for half a day.  Spur of the moment trip for them.  They were at a car dealership buying a new Buick and the salesman was talking about catching fish in Taneycomo.   Think they called from the dealership and said "We need to go fishing!"  Joanna brought in a beautiful 19" Rainbow and Wanda had a nice 17" one.  Good day on the larger ruby midge.

Joanna’s fish – 9/28/09	Wanda – 9/28/09

James – 9/29/09

Tuesday Darrell had Leroy and his father-in-law, James out for half day.  They are from Oklahoma and Leroy fishes here quite a bit.  James is 82 and this was his first experience fly fishing.  It was not as intimidating as he thought it was going to be and he had a good time.  Their best flies were the Ruby and P&P midges. 

 Stan had Jerry and "Dr. John" out for half a day.  They come here from Tennessee.  Good day for them on the P&P, Burgundy and Ruby midges.  Jerry caught a 20" Rainbow then a couple fish later, an 18" Rainbow.  They like our fishery!

 

Well, unfortunately they ran water all weekend…..of course!  However, with two generators, they kept the tailwater level fluctuating somewhere between 704′ and 705′ and there are a few places where you can wade at these levels.   This morning was the first time we have seen the water off for a week.  They had it off this morning and turned two generators on at noon.  It is 3:30 p.m. and I just heard another horn.  We are now up to three.   Weather has been beautiful.  Brisk mornings and sunny days in the 70s.  Think it got into the 80s Sunday.  A bit warm!  Only negative yesterday and the day before was the wind.  Forecast calls for sunny day in the 70s tomorrow with a chance of showers Thursday afternoon and clearing overnight.  Friday and Saturday in the low 70s with another chance of showers Saturday night. 

Saturday, three of the guides were out working and one guide was out playing.  Dana had Mike and Ryan from Texas.  They were catching fish on a red San Juan worm, and a red midge.  Brought a nice 18" Rainbow to the boat.  Meanwhile, Stan was out with a couple of honeymooners from Colorado, Michelle and Travis.  He told Travis he was starting Michelle out right….taking her fly fishing on their honeymoon!  This was Michelle’s first experience on big water.  They fish a lot of small streams in Colorado.  Good day for them.  They too boated an 18" Rainbow.  Patterns were a Ruby midge and the pink midge.   Darrell had Alton from Alabama out.  They had a good day on the rusty, P&P and Ruby midges.  Gina and a couple of gals from the River Runners Women’s Fly Fishing Club were out for a day of fun and fishing.  When most of us caught up with them, they had wreaked havoc on most of the fish in the area.  Not certain all the patterns they had gone through but know at one time Gina was fishing the Miracle scud with a red blood worm dropper and doing very well.

Sunday was another flotilla day with four of us on the water.  Stan had Bob and his son, Bryan out.  Bob lives in Illinois and his son lives in Columbia, MO.  They boated lots of fish on a large Ruby (12 or 14) , the pink midge and a pink egg pattern.  Dana was on the river with Bob & Linda from Springfield, MO for half a day.  Dana thought this was a neat trip as Linda brought snacks, chocolate covered almonds and elk summer sausage!  Their best patterns were the red San Juan, red midge and peach egg.  Darrell and Carolyn had a full day with our Louisiana family.  Of course, Dawn (aka "the Stripper") was in the "Cacklecraft" with Carolyn and Darrell had Albert and James Albert.  This was one of Dawn’s days.  She hooked fish almost everywhere she cast.  Wonderful day on the Big Ruby.  Water clouded up a little in the afternoon, so we dropped a P&P or a pink SJ under it for the last two hours of the trip.  Of course she caught a few stripping the holographic green crackleback.   Darrell and the guys had a good day on a gray scud, and various midges.  Sunday fished good on both banks above the MDC boat ramp and down both sides of the river through the Trophy Run area, the Lookout Island as well as the high bank (old river channel) all the way down to Fall Creek.  

Dawn – 9/27/09

Know that one of the local guides, John, caught an nice Rainbow which we approximated at almost 18 lbs. last week up around the outlet 1 area.  They were running water.  Another nice Rainbow, about 10 lbs. was caught by a lady on her second time fly fishing up in the same area.  Still not seeing great numbers of large fish on any kind of regular basis.  

We have had a lot of rain off and on since Saturday.  And, as a result, Table Rock Lake is now up to 917.1′.  It came up a foot in just a little over one day.  So, guess what.  Generation is also up.  Had the water off three hours Monday morning, then ramped up to four generators by noon.  Off until 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning, then ramped up to 3 for the rest of the day.  Two going this morning until 10:00 a.m. when they turned on another and now (2:20 p.m.) we have four going with a level of 708.9′.  Doubt that we will see much, if any wading for the next couple days.  This weekend will be a surprise.  Hope it is a good one.  Chances of rain in the forecast until Saturday, when we should see some sun.  However, they forcast rain the past two days and we have lucked out both days….no rain. 

Stan on the water for half day float with Bruce from Colorado.  Told him he really didn’t have to come this far to fly fish, but think they like it here.  They had a very good day on the size 18 Ruby midge under the Big Ugly. 

Tuesday, Carolyn had two of her regulars, Alan & Heidi out for a half a day.  Everyone was excited as they got on the water as there was no generation.  Passed one of our customers, Donna, as we were rowing up toward the "Gauntlet", and she advised she had been having a wonderful morning stripping the crackleback.  Just got a little ways above her and the first horn sounded.  That was the end of that.  Made it up to the "Gauntlet" before the second horn sounded.  When it did, the water turned to chocolate milk!  Took a little while for the water to run through and turn back to normal color and when it did, we found some fish and had a good catching day.  Best patterns were a size 12 or 14 Hot Pink midge with a tungsten bead head, size 18 copper dun and Ruby midges.  We’re going to try it again tomorrow.

Darrell took Jerry and Gail from Texas on a half day drift today.  Started out a little slow, but when they found the right combination of fish and the pattern they wanted, they had a fun, fish catching morning on the Ruby midge and the holographic green crackleback.  As with most new fly fishers, Gail caught the most and largest fish!

As I was driving to work yesterday morning, with all the fog throughout the valleys, I could see a hint of color on the trees poking up above the fog.  Might be a pretty Fall.

Generated water all day Friday and Saturday.  Shut down at midnight Saturday and came back on Sunday as 2:00 p.m.  One generator on this morning at 6:00 a.m. and a second came on at 7:00 a.m.  Running 705.5 right now (9:30 a.m.).  Saturday was a down pour of rain all day.  Sunday was pretty nice althought the fog came and went most of the morning. 

Saturday, Wendell from Ky, had a half day float with Stan.  Not sure if they were just determined to fish or "gluttons for punishment", but they stayed on the water for the full float throught the down pours.  Looked like drowned rats when they got back to the shop.  Good news was they caught some fish.  Best patterns were the red midge size 16 midge with the size 18 burgundy midge.  Carolyn had Richard and Barbara from Raymore, MO. out for what was to be a half day float.  They had already missed several, brought one to the boat, and just brought in a "doubles" when the sky opened up.  Decided to come off the water and sit for a spell to see if it was going to let up.  After two cups of coffee, and a cream cheese cinnamon roll, the decision was it was not going to stop.  Best patterns were the size 16 red midge with the black zebra or ruby midge dropper.

Sunday Jim and Dana each had a veteran on the water as part of a Healing Waters activity.  Didn’t get to talk to them too much, but know they were getting hits on a size 12 varigated sculpin patterns using the sinking leaders on low water and size 8 of the same pattern when the water came up.   The morning fish a little slow, but really picked up in the afternoon and especially when the water came on.  All in all, a good day and everyone had a good time.  Both Jim and Dana said this was a lot of fun and are looking forward to the next time.

Stan was on the water with Bruce from CO. for half day.  They had a very good day on the size 18 ruby midge dropped below the Big Ugly. 

Chad & Roy – 9/20/09

 

 

Carolyn was out with Chad and his father, Roy, from TN.  Chad had a very good day on a golden variant sculpin and a natural pine squirrel sculpin under a sinking leader.   Roy was throwning the ruby midge dropped under the Big Ugly.  Lots of missed and lots of fish.   Chad’s nicest fish of the day was a 19" Rainbow that he caught on the natural pine squirrel sculpin.

They have been following the projection on generation pretty good so far this week.  Why can’t they do that on the weekends?!  Off every day until around 5:00 p.m. then on for one to four hours and back off.  Projection for today is the same and so far, it is off.  Tuesday it rain and drizzled most of the day.  Yesterday was overcast all day with periods of light rain.  Rained again this a.m. but does look like it might clear up for a while.  Think we have possibilities of rain in the forecast again for tomorrow.  Weekend looks pretty good.  Temps in the 70s.  I just looked out the window and actually see patches of blue sky!!!

Jim out yesterday with Mark and Chris, from here in Missouri.  This was their first attempt at fly fishing and they learned alot, had a fun time and caught a few fish.  They are floating the Buffalo today so we hope they can apply from of their new skills to fishing there.  Best patterns were the copper dun and ugly midge, size 18 gray scud with a blood worm dropper.  They pretty much stayed in the area just above and below the MDC boat ramp.

Reports from fishing up near the Hatchery are a mixed bag.  Catching fish, but not real fast and furious.  Seeing a few nice rainbows, a few browns, but not consistently. 

Well, they suceeded in messing up the weekend with unprojected generation both Saturday and Sunday.  It was only the equivalent of one generator, but it was up and down, they off.  Yesterday they projected no generation until 5:00 p.m. so they turned it on at 3:00 p.m. and kept it on for about three hours.  Today’s projection is no generation until 5:00 p.m.  Just checked at 3:05 p.m. and it is still off.  Threat of showers every day for the past three days.  Sunday cleared up and was a beautiful day.  Monday we had some light rains for very short periods of time.  Today is pretty much a drizzly most of the day.  Slight chance of rain again tomorrow, but we are also supposed to see some sun.  Sunny and in the low 70s upper 80s for the rest of the week.

Jack and his son, Dan, from Indiana, spent Sunday and Monday on the water all day with Jim.  This was Dan’s birthday present from Jack.  They had a couple of good days stripping size 6 sculpin patterns and picking up some nice Rainbows.  They also fished the size 16 red ass emerger and the red midge.