Hot today!  I think it is around 90 degrees with 51% humidity.  Yesterday started out looking like it was going to be pretty warm, but the storm that hit Springfield cooled us down.  We did not get rain, at least where we were on the river.  Overcast sky, some distant rumbling, and a cool down, but that was all.  Looks like a cool Monday with upper 70s and a 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms.  Slight chances of rain all week with temperatures in the mid to upper 80s.  Chances of rain almost nil by the weekend and 90s.

Happy Day!  Yesterday, they had the generators off for the first time in a couple weeks.  Didn’t turn them on until noon, as projected.   Turned on one unit and one hour later, they turned on one more unit.  At 2:00 they turned on the third unit.  Today, again, they had the generators off until noon.  Right now they are running the equivalent of a low two units, again, as projected.  Tomorrow they are supposed to have them off until 1:00 or 2:00 p.m.  Mondays are always ” up for grabs”. 

Wow!  A little behind here.  Stan on the water last Sunday and Monday with Kirk from St. Louis.  New to fly fishing and wanted to learn.  He is slated for a trip to Montana in a month or two to go fly fishing.  He probably won’t be faced with the conditions there that he had here.  9000 cfs of water on both days.  He did hook and land some fish on the big ruby midge.  Monday, Jim and Darrell  had Chris, Gaby, Kyle and Ryan, also from the St. Louis area, on the water for half a day.  Pretty much instructional trips, and they caught fish on the ruby midge, and various size black zebra midges. 

Thursday Jim took Jim and his son Branson out for half a day.  It was a size 16 & 18 black midge day.  Stan had Bob and Jan, from Kansas out for half a day.  He and Bob worked together at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Department in Olathe, KS.  They had a fun day, and I think Jan outfished Bob.  Big ruby and P&P midges.

Dana took Tom from Texas out for half a day Friday.  They had a good day on the rusty midge and a CQ streamer.  Three boat group from Ohio, was taken out by Jim, Darrell and Stan.  Barry and Larry were with Darrell.  Paul went with Jim, and Stan had Tony and Mike.  Big ruby and size 18 & 16 black midges were the patterns for this outting. 

Saturday, Stan took Claudio and his son, Sebastian, from Puerto Rico out for half a day.  This is something Claudio was wanting to try.  He did and he likes it.  Said he would be back again next year when he picks his son up from Camp.  Good day for they on the big ruby, P&P and black zebra midges.   And, it was a happy day for Carolyn.  I spent the day with friends, Dawn and James Albert.  We had a great day we had.  With the water off, once we found the magic color, the copper dun midge, it was pretty fast action.  It also worked well with a size 18 gray scud dropper.  Once the water came on, we changed out and fished the rise of the one unit with a big ruby and a pink or red San Juan dropper.  As the speed of the water picked up, we moved on down the river and found another shallow area with the water starting to rise over this area.  Again, it was the big ruby and San Juan worm dropper.  We did decide that the red San Juan was the best.  Second generator came on and fishing stayed fast and furious, just like the water.  Not too much lag time with the three of us fishing between someone hooking up.  Once they turned on the third unit, the fast and furious calmed down.  We did pick up a few more on the drift down, but no action like we had had.  But, what a great day!

Clear skies are for forecast for the next several days and warmer temperatures.  Before we were under the normal temperatures….looks like we are going to be above normal for a while.  Keeps us discussing the weather!

We continue to see non-stop generation.  We had a few days of fairly low in the early morning and then they ramped it up to two or three units by 9:00-10:00 a.m. and pretty much kept it there for the balance of the day.  All we can hope for is some off time in the mornings as we get closer to the power pool level.  In the meantime, we will probably see two to three units.

Jim on the water with Ralph from Texas last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  They were “thundered” on early Wednesday.  A little squall came through in the morning with a few thunder boomers in it and a little lightning.  We saw maybe five minutes of rain and it went on it’s merry way.  However, not before the guys decided it was best to get on down the river.  Tuesday and Thursday fished pretty good for them, despite the fluctuating water.  No specific pattern, but pulled a few out on each thing they tried.

Saturday, Stan took Rick and Kristi out for an afternoon float.  Pretty good day with three units going.  Good day for them which included at least two doubles.  Big ruby with the P&P dropper were their best patterns.

Some sunshine for a change.  We have had enough rain!  Temperatures today in the upper 70s.  Tomorrow and Wednesday look like low 80s and back into the 70s Thursday and Friday.  Bad news, 50/50 chance of showeers Wednesday and Thursday.  80s and sunny Saturday, but Sunday a slight chance of showers again with temperatures remaining in the low 80s.

Fast, non-stop water generation for the past four days.  Table Rock is up to 918.5 feet, so it’s anyones guess on what the generation pattern will be in the near future, but I would not be surprised to say….running.  But, both Beaver and Bull Shoals are both above power pool and they are off today.  Go figure!

Jim, from Florida, back on the river with Stan last Tuesday.  Another good day for him on the big ruby and a P&P dropper. 

Thursday, Jim took Brad and Jennifer out to show them the ropes.  Casting is looking good.  Boated some fish on the CQ streamer and the red midge.  Think they liked it!  Stan had David and his son Jordan from Texas out.  Their best pattern was the big ruby. 

Matt - 5/31/13

Matt and his brother Wes, from Kansas, spent Friday morning on the water with Stan.  This  was Matt’s first time fly fishing.  Good ole big ruby comes though again. 

Wes - 5/31/13

Sunday, one of our regulars from the area, Phil brought a friend, Lowell to fish half a day with Stan.  Big ruby was the best pattern for them.  Carolyn had Sam and his wife, Michelle, out for an instructional trip (second day of the two-day school).  A bit tough, but we did catch a few fish on the big ruby and the CQ streamer.  Overall, fishing has been a little slow the past few days.

Michelle's first on fly rod - 6/2/13

Summer is finally here.  Temperatures in the 80s and a bit humid.  Certainly feels like it.  Forecast is calling for chances of rain Thursday through Saturday.  Temperatures will remain in the 80s through the weekend into next week.

Some nice wading water over the past three days.  Water was actually off today until 2:00 p.m.  Same pattern yesterday.  When they have been generating, it has pretty much been the equivalent of 1 to 2 units. 

Neat day on the water this past Saturday.  Over eight years ago, I took a couple fly fishing.  Weeks or months later, they brought their whole family to learn how to fly fish.  What a day on the water with the one son (who was 8 years old at the time), and three daughters (10 , 14, and I believe the other was 15 years old).  Well this weekend. Mike brought his fiance, Aurrice and two of the, now young adults, the son, Ben, and one of the daughters,  Emily.  Ben is now 16 and Emily is 22.   Stan took Ben and Emily and I took Mike and Aurrice.  This was Aurrice’s first attempt at fly fishing and she picked up casting and mending very well.  We’re still working on the hook set, but all looks promising.  Good day for everyone, even with the water going off and then coming on during the day.  Best patterns were the big ruby, holographic green crackleback, and the primrose & pearl, ruby and lightening bug midges.  

Sunday, Bryan spent the day on the water with Carolyn.  No generation when we put in, so we worked some emergers to start out as the fish were sipping in an area above the boat ramp.  It was a fish a fly morning.  One or two on the olive WD40, one on a red ass, etc.  Put on the size 18 ruby and hooked a few on this.  Found a sweet spot below the boat ramp and they were taking the size 18 grey scud dropped from a P&P midge.  Didn’t last long as they decided it was time to release some water.  Should not have been a problem, but it dirtied up to the point, we decided it was time to take a lunch break and let it clear up.  Pulled the CQ streamer below the Lookout Island and then headed on down with the big ruby and a peach egg pattern dropper.  Pulled several fish on the high bank with this.  Good, fun day on the water!

Monday, Stan book Mac and his friend Bob out for half a day.  These two had a good day on the P&P, a size 18 grey scud and the size 18 ruby midge.

Still looks like good weather for the holiday weekend.  Temperatures in the mid to upper 70s with a slight chance of rainSaturday and Sunday. 

So far, non-stop generation.  Yesterday, it was a little more stable and today, they are holding it pretty much as projected, 70 mwh with approximately 5500 cfs.  Tomorrow is still a mystery.

Fred - 5/23/13

Stan on the water yesterday morning with Fred from Springfield, and his son, Troy who is home on leave.  The fished with Stan last August and it was one of those day when the water had been off for quite a while and when they fired up the first generator, it turned to mud.  Second generator came on and more of the same, only faster.  Had quite a bit of water runing again this year, but fishing was definitely better.  Almost everything caught on the big ruby with the #18 ruby dropper.  Darrell had two of his relatives from Norway, Kristan and Sting out in the afternoon.  Fishing a bit slower in the afternoon, but Sting caught his first trout on a fly rod on the #16 red d-ribbed midge.  This was probably their best fly for the afternoon.

Sting - 5/23/13

According to our local weather forecasters, we should not see any more rain until possibly next weekend, and then the chances are slight.  Let’s hope so.  We don’t need any more rain.    Temperatures should be in the upper 70s to low 80s. 

We have seen pretty much non stop generation for the past few days, and this trend will probably continue.  Not certain what they will do over the holiday weekend.  It would be nice if we saw some wading time, but we’ll just have to wait and see.

Ian and his father, John spent a full day on the water with Jim on Monday.  Good day for these guys on the red midge, black midge, and CQ streamer.  Ian wanted to work on streamer presentation, so I’m sure Jim worked him well on that. 

Jim - 5/20/13

Stan had Jim, from Florida out for half a day.  They had a good day on the big ruby midge.

Wednesday was a horrible generation day.  From about 11:00 a.m. on, they increased the flow enough to raise the water level a foot every hour until they reached 708.9 and 10,000 cfs.  Tough day on the water.  Jim had Brian and Wanda from North Carolina out for the morning.  By they time they got the casting down, they water was so messed up it was hard getting many fish to the boat.  They did succeed however and caught some fish on the red midge with the copper head black zebra midge, a plain black zebra and had some hits and hooked some on the CQ streamer. 

Craig - 5/22/13

Gina also had some new fly fishers, Marlene and her brother Craig, from the Springfield area.  Marlene was taking Craig fly fishing for his birthday.  They caught fish on the red midge, a few on the primrose & pearl, and several other patterns they tried.  Tough day fishing but what a beautiful day!  Happy birthday Craig!!!

Weather has been hot and humid.  Storms went through north of us early this morning, but we are expecting some kind of weather later today and into tomorrow.  After that, 80s into the weekend. with very slight chances of rain.

Just enough no generation the past couple days to wet your appetite.   They had the water off yesterday until 11:00 a.m. or so, and again this morning.  Think it is supposed to fire up at 9:00 a.m.  Lots of folks on the water yesterday enjoying the “no generation” and good catching conditions.  Hopefully, we won’t get a lot of rain out of this system moving through since we are still a couple feet above power pool.

Saturday we had four boats on the water.  Jim had a friend from Michigan, Chuck, out most of the day.  They had a good day on the black zebra below the ruby midge.  He tried pulling streamers that way (Jim’s favorite way to fish), but it just was not a streamer day.  Stan had a half day on the water with  Bob and and Matt,from Florida.  The did well on the big ruby (yep, water was running) and either a black zebra dropper or the primrose & pearl midge.  Darrell’s fairly new fly fishers, Morgan and Taylor, were from Springfield, MO.  Once they got the hang of it, it was good on the  big ruby and black zebra dropper.

Meredith's first - 5/18/13

 Carolyn had Lee and Meredith from Arkansas.  Lee does quite a bit of fly fishing and can throw a line.  Meredith it still new and actually boated her first trout on a fly rod Saturday.  The morning started out very good.  Fish were where they should be and I think we even had a double on on our second drift down the boat ramp bank.  However, as Jim found out during the day and we confirmed, it was just not a streamer day, but we had a good day on the big ruby and either a lightening bug or hot hare’s ear nymph dropper.  Did catch some early on the copper dun dropper.  Several nice fish!

Sunday it was Stan on the water with Mike from Oklahoma.  Mike has been fishing with Stan for almost 10 years now!  They had a nice, relaxing, catching day, mainly on the primrose & pearl midge.   Darrell was working with a fairly new fly fisher, Brad.  Brad is from Raymore, MO.  They had a good day of learning and catching, on the primrose & pearl and black zebra midges.  Jim too was in a teaching mode.  He took Sam and his wife, Sharon from Oklahoma out for half a day.  They learned at lot and caught some fish.  black zebra and blood worm dropper, as well as the CQ streamer.

Really felt like summer yesterday.  Temperature in the upper 80s.  Today was a little overcast with temperatures in the upper 70s.  We are expecting mid to upper 70s tomorrow, then into the 80s over the weekend.  We do have a chance of thunderstorms (50%) tomorrow, but we also had a 50% chance of thunderstorms today and, so far, (it’s 5:30 p.m.) we have not seen them.  After tomorrow, the rainis pretty much out of the forecast until next week.

Generation all day today and the projection is for it to shut down at midnight and stay off until 9:00 p.m. when we’ll see one generator for a couple hours.  Then they will turn on two units for a couple hours, finally three units until 10:00 p.m. when it will ramp down to two, then one and finally none.  Sounds like it will be off for a while Friday morning. 

Kristi and Brodie, from Oklahoma, had a great day on the water with Stan yesterday.  Kristi is pretty new at fly fishing and she stayed up with Brodie for quite a while.  Hot, windy day, with three units going most of the afternoon, but they did well on the big ruby, and the holographic green crackleback.  Stripping was a new technique for them and they really liked it.

Great weather we are having.  Sunny yesterday and in the 70s.  A little cool this morning, but it has warmed up and the temperature is in the low 60s heading for upper 60s.  80s are the forecast for the next couple days; then into the 70s for a couple days.  Next weekend is projected to be 80s again.

That was the good news.  Now for the generation.  Pretty solid three generators going since mid-day Friday.  Taneycomo level with these generators has held right in the 708.8 range.  We are back to a Table Rock level of 917.  This was about 1-1/2 inches higher at noon yesterday.  The schedule for tomorrow is more of the same…..three units all day.

If we have to have high water, we prefer that they keep it level, like they are doing, at some level, whether it be high or low.  The stable water level has put the fish where we expect them to be.  Lots of our boats on the water yesterday and everyone had a good day.  Darrell had James Albert from Louisiana out all day.  They pulled a few streamers and he threw a hopper a few times, but their best patterns were the big ruby with a black zebra dropper.  Jim and his son, Kevin, from Oklahoma spent half a day with Jim.  They also did best on a red midge with a black zebra midge.  Stan’s guest, Mike was fishing the big ruby with a little ruby dropper.  They also caught a few on the red holographic red crackleback.  Carolyn was out with friends,

Pretty rainbow - 5/11/13

Bob and Linda, from Kansas.  We had a fun day on the CQ streamer and holographic green crackleback on both a 1.5 ips and 2.6 ips sinking tip.  Also did well on the lightening bug dropped under the big ruby.  Wish this picture did justice to one of the pretty rainbows we caught yesterday.  Everyones’ biggest problem yesterday was the WIND!  Pretty bad when you can stop still with three units going because the wind is that stiff coming up stream!

Nice, warm days for a change.  We are expecting upper 70s today and tomorrow.  Slight cool down Friday; lower 70s with Saturday and Sunday in the 60s.  But, back into the 70s Monday and looking at 80s next week.  Slight chance of rain later today.  Chances again tomorrow, but the best chance appears to be Friday. 

We have seen pretty steady generation for past five days.  An average cfs of 6500, and level around 707′.  The level in Table Rock has also stablized around 916.8′.  We’ll just have to wait and see what the generators bring over the next few days.

With the water stabilizing, fishing has been very good.  Dana on the water half a day Sunday with Jeff, one of his regulars from Defiance, MO.  They had a really good day on the CQ streamer, the big ruby and a size 14 Primrose & Pearl midge. 

James - 5/6/13

Monday, Stan took James, from Arkansas, out all day.  Great day for James on the big ruby, the CQ streamer and a red holographic crackleback.    James had not been fly fishing for several years and I think he is glad he decided to get back into it.  Jim had one of his long-time regulars, Frank from Belton, MO, out all day Monday and again for half a day on Tuesday.  They had a great day on the CQ streamer, red midge with a black midge dropper and a black wooly bugger.  

Also out on Tuesday was Stan with a couple guys from Oklahoma, Bob and Dennis.  Another guy who had been away from fly fishing for several years, Dennis, had a great time.  Both guys did well on the big ruby and the red crackleback.   Gary from here in Branson spent a good part of the day on the water with Carolyn.  We were scouting around for more places where the fish have moved with this higher water.  Great day pulling the CQ streamer and holographic green crackleback.  Probably the better sized fish were on the size 16 red d-ribbed midge dropped under the big ruby.  Life is good!