Water Everywhere! Good News….Fish Love It!

April 6th, 2015

Did not get as much water this this last rain as we did with the earlier one.  However, it did set us back a little as far as getting Table Rock Lake down to pool.  Little sprinkles yesterday, but no more in sight for a few days.  Maybe Thursday will bring some more rain.

What can I say.  Maximum generation all day.  There was a slight break……not as much generation……before this last rain, but that was short lived.

Several boats out Saturday.  Jim had Steve, from Illinois out again.  They had a good morning on the ruby with the hot hare’s ear dropper or stripping the JQ streamer.  Al Wood from Michigan, spend the morning with Dana.  They fished a size 20 hare’s ear and the ruby 2.  Darrell and Stan had a group of young men who are attending college together and one of the guy’s father.  Pretty much the first time fly fishing or even fishing! for all of them.  Hope they don’t think the water looks like this all the time!  They did have a good time and even caught some fish.  One was a nice 17″ rainbow.  Big ruby for Stan’s boat, and Darrell was using the big ruby with the rainbow warrior dropper.

Yesterday, in the damp, cloudy day, Gary and his son, Kale took half a day with Stan.  Very good day for these guys.  They regularly fish Taney, and were distraught they could not get on the water.  No problem, into the boat and onto the fish.  Big ruby, with ruby 2 or black midge dropper.

 

Lots of Rain This Morning!

April 3rd, 2015

Hit the floor at 4:30 this morning when a clap of thunder and the sound of heavy, blowing rain woke me up.  Seemed like lots of rain, but so far, Table Rock Lake has only come 2/10ths of a foot.  However, I’m sure it will come up some more.  The good/bad news is that they are running four units almost full capacity and the projection is for more of the same tomorrow.  Right now, no major chances for rain for several days and temperatures in the mid 60s for the weekend and70s to 80s for next week.

Gina on the water Wednesday with her regular, Jim from Monett.  They were scheduled for a full day, but came off early when the thunderstorm and lightning were looming in the horizon.  Until then, however, they were having a good day on the black #16 d-rib midge and the black copperhead midge.  Stan was also on water.  He had Don and Gary from Kansas out for half a day.  They started late and found shelter from the rain where they waited out the storm, then back to fishing!  Good day for them too on the same patterns, black r-rib midge and black copperhead midge.

Several boats out tomorrow so we’ll see how she is fishing!

 

 

Water Is Gong Down

April 1st, 2015

Since the 27th, they have dropped Table Rock Lake a little over one foot.  YEAH!  We have one more foot to go and we will be at power pool.  Should start seeing a little off generation time when we get to that level.

Gorgeous day yesterday!  Sunny and in the upper 70s.  Today it is cloudy and in the low 60s for far and it is almost noon.  Slight chances for rain today and tomorrow and the prediction was that we would see mid 70s today and tomorrow.  I wouldn’t want to bet on today.  Friday looks like it will be wet….90% chance of morning showers and thunderstorms.  However, the weekend looks dry and mid 60s.

Stan and Jim both on the water Monday.  Needed to see if we could find fish with all this water.  Stan took Jack and Mary Kay to Turkey Creek where they found several cooperative fish.  Best pattern was the P&P midge under the big ruby.  Jim hit the main part of Taneycomo and he found fish in many of the normal high-water locations on the JQ streamer and a ruby 2 midge.  Not barn burner days, but enough fish to keep you happy and have a good time.

Jim had Mark and his friend, Chuck on Taney yesterday.  This was baptism by fire for Chuck as it was his first time fly fishing.  Hope he doesn’t think we fish water like this all the time!!  They caught and missed several fish on the JQ streamer, the ruby 2

Kathy - 3/31/15

Kathy – 3/31/15

and hot hare’s ear nymph.  Kathy and Ron from Louisiana spent the day with Carolyn.  They worked hard and we hit any place we saw fish.  I’d say good to very good day on the ruby 2, black copperhead midge and the holographic green crackleback.

 

Four Units – 24 hours/day

March 28th, 2015

Right now and through Monday for sure, we have and will have four generators going almost at maximum for 24 hours each day. Fortunately we do not have real strong chance for rain in the near future.  Hopefully, they can get Table Rock Lake back to pool with this generation pattern.

Weather is looking better come Sunday, and should look pretty good all next week.

We cancelled trips through the first of the week.  If the water stays running like this for a few days, we will be able to find fish in their normal places.  But, during the first few days of heavy running, they are still scattered so we do not want to take folks out and not have some fish come to the boat.  We certainly have fished even heavier water successfully, but we know things have to settle down.

We’ll keep you posted!

Lots of Rain and High Water!

March 26th, 2015

Boy did we get dumped on last night.  Raining a little this morning, but it should give way to sunshine this afternoon.  Possibility of more rain tonight and into early morning.  By Sunday, however, they are promising warm weather again.

Lots of generation right now.  We are about one foot over power pool right now and I am sure it will continue to go up as we get the run off into Table Rock Lake.  This will probably equate to us seeing more generation for a while.

Stan on the water Tuesday with Marvin and Richard.  Marvin is from Indiana and Richard from Kansas.  They try to meet here every year and fish and their wives go shopping.  Pretty good deal!  Very good day for them Tuesday on the ruby 2 under the big ruby.  So good, they went out again yesterday.  Whole new day, but, after a slow start in the morning, they hustle several fish to the boat, again on the ruby 2/big ruby combo.  We’re waiting for weather reports right now as they want to go out again today!

Jim - 3/25/14

Jim – 3/25/14

Wednesday, Jim took another float with Gina.  After the slow morning start, they pulled off a very good day on the ruby 2 and pink San Juan worm.

Another Beautiful Day….but, High Water

March 25th, 2015

Another 70s day here today but there are pretty good chances we will have some stormy weather late this afternoon.  That will knock down our temperatures into the 50s for a few days with slight chances of showers.  By Sunday, we will be back into the upper 60s or low 70s.

We have seen 3-4 units running in the morning every day this week.  They have cut it back a little in the late morning, but still at least a full unit or more running the balance of the day.

David - 3/22/15

David – 3/22/15

Sunday, Darrell took David, from Illinois out for half a day.  Great day.  Good weather and a low one unit running all day.  Lots of patterns worked, the copperhead black midge, ruby 2, holographic green crackleback, but probably best of the day was a prince nymph on the 2.6 ips sinking leader stripping.

Stan on the water Monday with Terry and Rob from Wisconsin.  Even with 3 units running all day and the water up and down from 4000 cfs to 7000 cfs, it fished very good.  Terry and Rob had great day on the ruby 2 under the big ruby.  Carolyn took Ron, also from Wisconsin out for half a day.  Ron had to set his mark high early in the trip with a nice 20 inch rainbow he caught drifting the weighted red San Juan worm under a big ruby.  We also fished the black copperhead midge,

Ron - 20" rainbow - 3/23/15

Ron – 20″ rainbow – 3/23/15

the ruby 2 and the lightning bug and caught fish on all of these.   Fun day!  David and Darrell were on the water again on Monday.  The crackleback stripped below Lookout Island was their best pattern for the day followed by the ruby 2 midge.

It Just Doesn’t Get Much Better!

March 22nd, 2015

Nice weather the past few days.  Temperatures in the 60s and 70s.  No rain, no wind…a little sprinkle today but I think it is short lived.  We expect another nice days tomorrow with temperatures in the 70s.  70s through Wednesday, but 50% chance of showers Tuesday and 90% by Wednesday.   Looks like a cool down coming through on Thursday as temperatures will be in the 50s both Thursday and Friday and sneak back into the 60s for the weekend.

Pretty stable on the generation schedule the past few days.  Other than ramping it up in the mornings for 3 hours or so, then back down to the 25 mwh level for the balance of the day.  For the most part, this is a nice 1100 to 1800 cfs with an increase in height to some where between 703.6 to 704.6.  Definitely a wading level in places and a great float!

With all that said, fishing has been wonderful!  Wonderful in many ways.  Not only is fishing good, but we have seen several new to fly fishing folks these past few days, and quite a few of these are young people.

Thursday, Dana had Gaylon and his son, Kenton, from Oklahoma on the river for half a day.  Great half day for these new fly fishers.  It was the Ruby 2 or the JQ streamer that hooked most of their fish.

Max - 1st on fly rod - 3/19/15

Max – 1st on fly rod – 3/19/15

Max’s 12th birthday present from his Grandmother was a fly fishing trip.  So Dad rode along to watch Max learn how to fly fish with Carolyn for half a day.  Max had a very good day on the water with either the Ruby 2 or black copperhead midge.  He was throwing a respectable line and definitely had his line management under control as he pulled in fish the whole trip…..and he missed a few too!  The catch of the day was out of Gina’s boat who had Brian and his son, Zach out for half a day.  This was

Zach - 22" rainbow - 3/19/15

Zach – 22″ rainbow – 3/19/15

Zach’s first time fly fishing and I believe he too just turned 12.  Zach’s last fish of the day was a beautiful 22 inch rainbow.  What a birthday present!

Brian - 3/19/15

Brian – 3/19/15

Very good day for these guys on the black copperhead midge under an egg pattern.

And the catching goes on.  Friday, Aubrey and her mother, Abigail, took half a day float with Carolyn.  Both ladies are new to fly

Aubrey & 16-1/2" rainbow

Aubrey & 16-1/2″ rainbow

fishing and both did very well.  Mom took a picture of Aubrey’s nice 16-1/2″ rainbow so I’ll post it as soon as I get it.  It was hard getting either of these fishers to finally put down their rods.  Another black copperhead midge or ruby 2 day.

Abigail - 032015

Abigail – 032015

Darrell was out with James Albert from Louisiana.  This young man throws a line!  They had a great day on…..you know it!….the black copperhead zebra and Ruby 2!!!  However, I did observe them catching quite a few stripping the holographic green crackleback.

Behind Again!

March 18th, 2015

Gorgeous weather….upper60s to low 70s and sunny for several days.  Of course, we have to pay our dues, so today and part of tomorrow is in the 40s and rain!  That’s alright.  Friday we hit upper 60s again; low 70s on Saturday and mid to upper 60s through most of next week.  I am seeing a 70% chance of showers next Wednesday.

Generation has been pretty stable at a low one unit almost every day all day.  This can limit the wading area, but there are several places where you can wade with a low one unit.  It makes a great drift unless the wind is flowing 90 mph up stream!!!!  Did have that a couple time this past week.

Don and Steve from Illinois had a great day on the water with Stan last Wednesday.  It was one of those low flow days so they used the big ruby with either the P&P or size 18 ruby dropper.  Jim was out with Peter from Kansas.  Jim had Peter on the hot hare’s ear and the ruby midge.

Sam - 3/12/15

Sam – 3/12/15

Thursday, new fly fishers Doug and his two sons, Sam and Ethan spent half a day on the water with Stan and Carolyn.  Everyone caught a lot of fish and these nice fish put a smile on Sam and Ethan’s faces.  Good job guys!

Ethan - 3/12/15

Ethan – 3/12/15

Carolyn took Wendy and Melody out all day Sunday.  Another beautiful day and great fishing.  Melody set the bar for the day with one of her early catches.  We never hit this mark again, but did bring a lot of fish to the boat on the big with with the ruby 2 under it.

Melody - 3/15/15

Melody – 3/15/15

Steven, from Oklahoma, and his nephew Evan spent all day Monday with Stan.  Lots of fish on the peach egg with the ruby 2 dropper.  Also caught some stripping the holographic green crackleback.  Dana and Darrell had a group from Oklahoma out for half a day. Good day for all these guys.   Bill and Carter fish with Dana and they fished the ruby 2 and a red San Juan worm.  Darrell had Stephen and Jennifer.  Their best pattern was the ruby 2.

Finally, we are up to yesterday.  Jim out with Larry and Dan from Kansas.  Still fishing very good for these guys on the red midge, hot hare’s ear nymph and the JQ streamer.  Darrell had Dave and Jake out.  Lots of misses on the holographic green crackleback on the sinking leader.  During their outing, they caught a couple browns on the ruby 2.  Last, but not least, Carolyn finished up a 2-day school for Kent and Chris.  She worked them hard on casting and techniques.  Finally let them sit back and catch fish and it was madness for a little while on the black copperhead zebra midge dropped under the big ruby.  Several doubles floating the high bank below look out island.  Kevin and friend, Joe from Kansas, were out with Stan.  Good day on a peach egg with the ruby 2 midge dropper.

I know….what is the ruby 2.  It is a modification to the regular ruby midge we tie with holographic red tinsel and a natural tungsten beadhead.  Changes are:  copper beadhead, black thread and black wire spiraled around the red holographic body.  Still on the TMC 100 hook.  We have been fishing it for several months now and there have been many days when it fished better than the regular ruby.

 

 

Great Day On The River!

March 10th, 2015

Weather has been, and is looking very good.  This past weekend it hit the upper 60s on Saturday and was in the 60s Sunday.  Even though it is a little rainy this morning, it should hit 60 today and 70!!! tomorrow.  50s, 60s, 70s is what I am seeing in the 10-day forecast.  Yeah!

Not a whole lot of generation.  Mainly, they have continued to run 1-3 units in the mornings somewhere between 7:00 to 10:00 for 2-4 hours then shut it down for the bulk of the day.  Today, of course, is the first exception for a while.  They are running 2 then 3 units an hour each this morning, then a low 1 unit the balance of the day.

Okay, let’s get caught up.

Bill - 17" Rainbow - 3/7/15

Bill – 17″ Rainbow – 3/7/15

Saturday was one of those days.  Fish everywhere, great weather and a super bunch of guys.  Dana, Jim, Gina and Carolyn got to take out a group from the Tulsa/Muskogee Healing Waters chapter.  Lots of fish and lots of fun.

Joseph - 3/7/15

Joseph – 3/7/15

We caught fish on almost everything we threw.  Some of the guys were stripping the JQ streamer with and without a trailer; a few were midging with the black, P&P or ruby midges.  We even caught some late in the afternoon on the Big Ugly with a midge dropper.  They were taking the Big Ugly half the time and the midge the

Russell - 3/7/15

Russell – 3/7/15

other half.  Some of the guys prepared a shore lunch of tacos which really hit the spot.  However, it was tough getting a few of the fishers to stop long enough to eat!

Shore Lunch

Shore Lunch

Healing Waters 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, amongst this flotilla, Stan had Bill and Bea, a couple of his regulars from the Kansas City area, out for half a day.  They too had a great day on the P&P and black copperhead midges.

Sunday, it was RB and Teresa’s day on the river with Stan.  Nice weather and good fishing.  P&P, black copperhead and ruby midges.  RB saved his best for last.  This nice 18″ rainbow right at the ramp!

RB - 18" Rainbow - 3/8/15

RB – 18″ Rainbow – 3/8/15

The Good, Bad and the Ugly!

February 26th, 2015

That’s the way I feel this weather has been.  One day it is good, then bad and looks like its going to get ugly!  Tuesday and Wednesday were beautiful.  Warm (but a little windy Tuesday), sunny and temperatures in the 40s.  Today it is WINDY! with temperatures in the 20s….might hit 30.  By the weekend we might see rain and freezing rain.  I’m really ready for Spring!

Pretty consistent generation schedule.  Off all weekend, and so far this week, we have had 2-3 generators on for 2-3 hours in the morning, off by 10:00 a.m. and nothing back on until 6:00 p.m. or so.

Pretty, but windy Tuesday, Carolyn was on the water with Mike from Kansas.  Very good catching day on the P&P and ruby midges dropped from another midge attractor in a size 16.  When we tired of that, it was the sinking leader, 2.6 ips, and a JQ streamer.  One of our customers, Norbert, was fishing up stream

Norbert - 2/24/15

Norbert – 2/24/15

from us and caught a beautiful 23-24 inch male rainbow.  I had the pleasure of getting to net it for him.  He didn’t have a big enough net!  What a great day!

Gina had the best weather day yesterday with Jim from Monett.  They went out for a late morning half day trip and had a good day on the holographic green crackleback  and the black and copperhead midge.  Lots of hits on a soft hackle.

 

 


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