Seeing Lots of Wading Time!

January 14th, 2013

COLD is the word to describe today.  It bounced between 15 and 17 degrees on my car temperature reader this morning on my way to work.  BUT, the forecast says we will warm up.  Today’s high will be low 30s, but tomorrow upper 30s, Wednesday and Thursday, mid to upper 40s.  by Friday and Saturday we will probably see 50s again!  Yeah! 

Lots of no generation days.  Last Wednesday and Thursday they ran all bay both days.  Other than that, the only generation we have seen for a week is one generator on this morning for a few hours…..at least that is the projection.

Last trip we had out was last week and Stan had Doc and his friend Les, from Oklahoma out for the day.  They caught several fish, but felt it was not the normal grrreat day they usually get.  However, a good time (as they always do) was had by all.  Red midge, ruby midge and primrose & pearl midge seemed to be the patterns for them. 

Talked Have been talking to several brave souls who have been fishing the past few days and they are seeing quite a few nice rainbows.  Think the McCloud strain is showing up in our rainbows right now and they are in or going into their spawn as several of the males caught have been “milking”.  The rainbows they are catching are nice, 19-20 inches, and beautifully colored.  Heard of two or three fishers who have hooked some even larger.  Bundle up and get out there.  It might be worth it.  Red seems to be the magic color right now, red midges and red soft hackles.  One fisher did do well the other day stripping the CQ streamer.  Stan had a trip today, but they mutually agreed that it would be nicer tomorrow afternoon and Thursday afternoon!  Good move!

Happy New Year! Started It Out Right!

January 2nd, 2013

What a beautiful New Year’s Day.  Some time after 1:00 p.m. we had soft, white (of course) snow falling onto the river.  How pretty!  Did get a little cold, but it was worth it.  Today the sun is shining and we expect to hit the upper 30s.  The same predictions for Thursday and Friday.  By this weekend, looks like we might be in the mid 40s Saturday and lower 40s Sunday.  Next week looks like lower to mid 50s!  Sunshine into Wednesday and by Thursday there is a slight chance of moisture. 

Generation has pretty nice to us since the day after Christmas. No generation Sunday, but a little generation late Monday afternoon.  Tuesday we had a low one for about 3-4 hours in the morning then nothhing the balance of the day.  Today we had about a 1-2 hour shot of water and now it is off…as projected until this afternoon. 

Jay from Ashland, spent a 1/2 day on the water with Stan Monday.  What a lovely it was…overcast and raining and temperatures in the lower 30s.  Fortunately, the fish didn’t care.  They had a good day first on the rusty midge.  Once the fish got tired of this pattern, he switched to the black midge with the copper head.  When this one wore out it’s welcome, they finished up the midging with the copper dun.  Fish were emerger feeding and they also brought in a few on the dark olive soft hackle. 

RRWFFC Crazy women - 1/1/13

New Year’s Day, a few of the hard-core ladies from the River Runners Women’s Fly Fishing Club hit the water around 11:00 a.m.  (we wanted the heat of the day!)  What a fun day!  These fish love soft hackles in the snow.  Trout Mum was fishing a black zebra soft hackle, and Joker had caught some on the black copper head midge.  She then changed out to a soft hackle and caught several more.  Pyro and Happy Hooker were fishing the rusty soft hackle after trying other patterns that didn’t work so well.  Not sure what Let’s Go was fishing!  But what a great start to the New Year.

Happy New Year - 1/1/13

Good and Cold!

December 30th, 2012

Pretty nice day today, with temperatures forecast for the low 40s.  At this time, I think we will make it.  Tomorrow looks like mid 30s with pretty good chances for some type of moisture in the form of rain and or snow.  After we get through that, a colder New Year’s day in the low 30s and then we will creep back up to the upper 30s and 40s by the coming weekend. 

Great generation schedule the past two days.  No generation.  However, they did fire up one generator yesterday morning for a short period of time then shut it off.  So far today, they are following the published schedule.  According to the schedule, it should be off all day tomorrow. 

Weather has been cold, but fishing has been good.  I think it should really be classified as very good.  Everyone who has been brave enough to venture out has been catching fish.   The nice thing is that they are catching several fish in a couple hours so it’s not such a bad deal to quit after just a couple hours in the water.  Go warm up and hit it again.

Carolyn was out for a half day Friday with Jay and his son, Tucker.  Both are brand new, so we started with the roll cast, a little work on the pick up and lay down cast, line handling and playing a fish.  Tucker’s first or second drift resulted in a fish.  Good start for these two guys.  We never changed patterns from the size 18 copper dun midge.  It was pretty overcast Friday.  Tucker may have caught the slightly largest fish, but Jay passed him in number of fish. 

Saturday, Stan helped Scott, from Illinois celebrate his 58th birthday.  They had a great day catching fish and finished up drinking hot coffee and eating Scott’s birthday cake.

Dodged That Bullet!

December 26th, 2012

Looked like we were in for some snow, but as it turned out, not a flake in the area.  It is, however, cold!   Especially compared to what it was just 3-4 days ago.  High today is predicted to be 35.  With the sunshine we are seeing, we’ll probably hit that.  Tomorrow and Friday should be in the low 40.  Slight chance for some moisture, either rain or snow Friday.  chances, at this time, are no more than 30%.  Saturday looks sunny with a high in the mid 30s and Sunday might hit the mid 40s and partly sunny.  New Year’s eve day and New Years day both look like low 40s, again with slight chances for precipitation.   Okay, I’m ready for Spring!

Now, what can we say about the generation?  Have seen no generation since Sunday at midnight.  It was off all day Monday, Tuesday and the projection for today is no generation until 5:00 p.m today for four hours.  Then, off again. 

Brad - 12/23/12

No reports on fishing for the past two days, but Sunday was very good.  Gina had Dale and his friend  Brad on the water for half a day.  They had a very good day on the red midge, a size 18 Primrose & Pearl midge and the CQ streamer and filoplume.  The later two were being stripped on a sinking leader.  Other folks I talked to that day and some who had been fishing on Saturday also said fishing was very good on almost anything they wanted to throw. 

Dale - 12/23/12

 Some of the guys fishing below the fish ladder had a great day pulling olive wooly buggers.  Indications are that the lake has turned.  Oxygen levels in the tailwater are very good.

Good Fishing!

December 17th, 2012

Weather looks pretty good until next week.  Christmas day will be in the 40s and there is even a chance of snow….just in time for Christmas.  Otherwise, we are looking at 50s and 60s and very little chance of moisture.

Generation was off most of Saturday.  Sunday they ran something all day.  First low in the early a.m. then ramped it up for a while and up and down, etc..etc.  Today they did pretty much what they projected.  Some (3 hours) generation this morning and now it is off.  Should be off most of the day. 

Jim and Stan on the water Saturday with Jim, and his son, Brandon, and their friends, Tom and Connie.  Awesome day.  Lots of fish and lots of fun.  Both boats pretty much caught everything on the holographic green crackleback (early in the day) and finished off the afternoon strippipng the CQ streamer.  Everything was stripped on a sinking fly line or leader.  Also caught a few on the Primrose & Pearl midge.  The only downside of the day was the wind.  35 mph at times, but didn’t hurt…probably helped the fishing.   Several customers came into the shop that day complaining of aching arms from catching too many fish!

Stan on the water the next day with Nathan and Jeff from Texas.  Low generation in the early morning, then they cranked it up to two just about the time they hit the water.  Needless to say, it was not fishing like the day before, but they did catch fish.  Best patterns were the CQ, and the big ruby with the red midge dropper.  Jeff was new to fly fishing, but certainly caught fish.  Nate has been fishing for a while.

Enjoying This Nice Weather!

December 9th, 2012

Although it has been overcast the past two days, the weather was great, especially for this time of the year.  Very nice yesterday with temperatures comfortably in the upper 50s and very little wind.  About the same this morning, but it is after noon and it seems to be cooling down a little.  We had rain early this morning with thunder and lightening.  Prediction for tomorrow is mid to upper 30s for the high and low 20s for the low.  Shiver!  Tuesday, mid 40s and back into the 50s Wednesday with mid to upper 50s Thursday and Friday and low 60s for Saturday.  No rain in the forecast. 

Lots of wading time Friday.  They ran the equivalent of one generator for about an hour last in the day.  Saturday, we had one generator then two generators and then off some time after noon.  Today it has been a low one generator most of the day, with a low two mixed in for good measure for a short period of time around 1:00 p.m. 

Kevin and his friend Steve, from Sullivan, MO. were on the water all day Saturday with Jim.  Both of them have fished with him several times before, like once a year.  They had a fun filled fishing day catching on the CQ streamer, red San Juan corm and the copper headed black midge.  Jim says they “set a record for missed and lost fish!”  But they definitely did their fair share of bringing in some fish.  Darrell and Carolyn had the Kerrs from Louisiana on the water for a full half day.  We all did well on the copper headed black zebra, the mouse gray sculpin, a white midge , and the white grub.  A good time was had by all!

Good Day On The Creek!

December 7th, 2012

Okay, we have a couple more nice December days and then the cold snap moves in.  Today and Saturday will be in the 60s and Sunday in the upper 50s.  Yuk moves in Monday when the high will be mid 30s.  40s on Tuesday, moving into the upper 40s Wednesday and back into the 50s by Thursday.  Better get out and enjoy this weekend!

With the spastic generation we had Wednesday and Thursday, there is a slight possibility the water will be off for the weekend.  they ran one to two, even three generators all day for the past two days and half a day on Tuesday.  Today, the projection is for a very low one generator for three hours this morning then off until 6:00 p.m. when we might get one generator for a couple hours.

Jim on the water yesterday with Jim and Jack from Springfield area.  Jack is new to fly fishing, so Jim took him under his wing and has him casting and catching now.  Says he still needs to work on his false cast.  They had a good day on the creek (Taneycomo) catching on the CQ streamer, a copperhead black zebra midge and a red San Juan worm. 

Had folks coming into the shop during the week who were doing very well on the P&P midge.  Of course, most of this week has been nice and sunny.  Sending fishers out today with the rusty and copperhead black midges.

December in Like a Lamb!

December 2nd, 2012

What beautiful weather!  Even last week was nice, but the first two days of December are great.  Yesterday was in the upper 60s, and today and tomorrow will be in the lower 70s.  It was partly cloudy yesterday and again today.  We did have some wind yesterday!  Light winds predicted for today and a slight chance of scattered thunderstorms for tomorrow.  Tuesday through Thursday is predicted in the low 60s, with upper 50s by Friday through the weekend.  Right now there looks like a chance of showers by next Friday.

Generation has continued to be kind to the waders during this past week….even yesterday (Saturday).  Today is another story.  They are running the equivalent of one generator today, as projected.  However, they projected one generator all day yesterday and it was off most of the day.  Projection for tomorrow is one generator for a couple hours in early morning, then off the rest of the day until about 5:00 p.m.  Cross your fingers.

Stan on the water half a day with George from Bennett Springs.  They had a very good day on the P&P and ruby midges.  Just a little cool that day, so the thermos of hot soup hit the spot!

Charlie and Pete spent half a day with Jim Friday.  Another very good day.  Their patterns were the size 10 CQ streamer, an 18 rusty midge and the blood midge.  This was Pete’s first time fly fishing, so it was more instructional for him.  Shannon and Carolyn ventured out for a couple hours Friday afternoon.  He did well on his “hot hare’s ear” nymph.  Carolyn was pulling a mouse grey sculpin.  Probably missed more than I brought in!  Too nice a day not to go out for a little while.

Looks Like Warm Weather Coming Back!

November 27th, 2012

It certainly has been a bit nippy the past couple days.  After such a nice day Thanksgiving,  yesterday and today are down right cool!  Yesterday was a gloomy 40s day and today will maybe hit the mid 40s.  Good news, sun is out.  We start a slow warm up, upper 50s tomorrow, and by the weekend it will be in the upper 60s or better. 

Good old generation schedule.  Another weekend of generation, and then off most of Monday!  They are running some thig morning, but it is projected to be off by late morning and not come back on until early evening.

Trish - 11/21/12

Carolyn on the water all day last Wednesday with Mike and Trish from Texas.  Great day.  Fish on almost anything we threw, holographic green, silver, or red cracklebacks.  Also,  the CQ streamer, olive filoplume, mouse gray or golden variant sculpin patterns.  It was a stripping day.  Good weather too.  Friday, after Thanksgiving, they went out again for half a day.  Good thing as it was

Trish - 11/23/12

cold!    Notice the difference in attire from Wednesday to Friday!  Not only cold, but the wind was relentless!  It was a good half day.  Obviously not as many fish as on the first full day, but good day on the filoplume, CQ streamer and the primrose & pearl midge.  The grant finale to our day was after we had left the river.  During the drive back, an eight-point buck and three does were standing in the

Mike – 11/23/12

middle of Hatchery Road.  We stopped the car and watched them for a good 3-4 minutes before they moved on. 

Stan also on the river Friday with Brandon and his mother Brenda.  This is the fifth year in a row these two have fished on the day after Thanksgiving with Stan.  This has to be one of the most miserable days they have spent because of the cold and wind.  But, they had a good day catching on the big ruby, the P&P, and stripping a holographic green crackleback. 
Saturday, Kenny and Andrea were on the water all day with Stan.  Another good day on the red midge, the P&P and size 18 ruby midge.  Pretty cool when the hit the water, but it warmed up to the mid 40s and NO WIND!
Sunday, Dana had Mike and Preston out for half a day.  The day started out good, but then the water level started moving around and guess the fish did to0.  Pretty much shut down near the end of the trip.  Best patterns were a size 14 P&P, and the red midge.  Stan  had a couple of new fly fishers out for a late start half day, Ron and Judi from Kansas.  These two had a ball catching on the P&P dropped below a size 16 red midge.  Judi caught the largest, and Ron caught the most.  They like fly fishing!

Hope Everyone Had a Great Thanksgiving!

November 22nd, 2012

Other than eating too much, we had a great Thanksgiving Day.  When to good friend’s home for a wonderful meal.  How can one not eat too much.   Great day too, weatherwise.  Right now we are having showers along with thunder and some lightening.  Tomorrow looks pretty nippy.  The high is predicted to be upper 40s to low 50s, but no rain.  Mostly sunny.  Saturday will be another cool day in the low to mid 50s, but mostly sunny.  Sunday will climb to the low 60s and sunny.   Monday a chance of showers creeps in again, but clear by Tuesday and nippy temperatures back again, upper 40s to low 50s and partly cloudy.  Oh well, it is the end of November!

Yes, generation continues to be spastic.  They ran generators all last weekend.  Monday through Wednesday they turned on a low one generator some time during the day (not when they projected it) for one to two hours, then off the rest of the day.  What did they do today…run generators all day, from a low one to a full two.  Projection for tomorrow is some generation in the morning, then off around 10:00 a.m. and off until 5:0 p.m.

Stan had David and his wife, Karen, from Rhode Island out for half a day this past Saturday.  Of course, they were running water; three units when he put in.  David is an experienced fly fisher, but this was Karen’s first time for fly fishing, and she loves it!  They were fishing the P&P and red midges. 

Sunday, Ron from Blue Springs, fished with Stan for half a day.  Very good day for Ron on the P&P midge and stripping the holographic green crackleback.  Ron stays in the area and wanted to learn where and how to fish Taneycomo as he had never fished here before. 

David - 11/20/12

Tuesday was a beautiful day and lots of folks were on the river.  Darrell and Gina had a group from Louisiana on the river.  David and John were with Gina.  This was David’s first outing and he did well.  They did best on the black midge with the copper head.  Darrell had Doug and his son, Stephen.  They started out with the black midge with the copper head, but finished up with the P&P

Doug and 20" rainbow - 11/20/12

and a red soft hackle dropper.  Good day for these guys.  Mike, from Oklahoma, spent the morning with Stan.  They too had a good day starting with the P&P midge.  When the generators came on, unexpectedly, they found a good seam and stripped the holographic green crackleback on a sink tip.  Carolyn had Ron and Kathy out all day.  It was a Kathy day.  They started out with the black midge with the copper head and when the generators came on one fished the big ruby with a P&P dropper and the other had an egg pattern with the P&P dropper.  Most all the fish were either on the P&P or big ruby.  Good day, especially for Kathy.

Kathy - 11/20/12


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