Flys and Guides Newsletter – December, 15th 2009
***This is not really a typical newsletter; rather, it is an email that I sent to my subscriber list in the middle of December. I will always post all relevant information on my website in an effort to keep my site visitors and past clients informed. - JH
This is Jeremy Hunt from Taneycomotrout.com. I am writing you today to talk about several exciting developments with respect to my website and guide business. First of all, I am now working with a friend who is a professional copywriter/ editor in an effort to make the site more readable and enjoyable. There is no reason for me to put in all the time creating volumes of content if it cannot be easily read. I recognize that I am not a professional wordsmith and this process will allow me to spend an increased amount of time focusing on business tasks along with the opportunity to get out on the water more frequently.
I just wanted to give everyone a quick fishing update before getting into the other contents of this letter. Some of you may be wondering why Table Rock Dam is releasing water around the clock, even though the lake is almost three feet below power pool. The reason for this is that Beaver Lake is still holding seven feet of water from this last fall. Once they draw that lake down or when Table Rock Lake becomes low enough to hold all of the water from Beaver, Lake Taneycomo will start to see prolonged periods of low water. One of these scenarios should occur over the next couple of weeks. They have been running three to four units quite a bit on Lake Taneycomo of late, and the fishing has been really good with nymphs while drifting, but once they start running one or two units, the action will be insane out of my drift boat. Winter is a perfect time for beating the crowds – Taneycomo has been empty most days – and I would love to show you some of those great holes that are too crowded to get into at other times of the year. Twenty-inch rainbows are starting to be common on Lake Taneycomo again, and this is great news. Lately, there have been days out there that are reminiscent of the incredible fishing that was experienced on Taneycomo in the late 1990’s.
The White River and Norfork Tailwater in Arkansas have seen excessively high water over the last few weeks as the Corp of Engineers have cracked open the flood gates just a hair to help with low oxygen issues and to expediently lower the lakes. The trout are getting fat very quickly down there, and streamer fishing for trophy browns and rainbows is starting to heat up. Look for the really heavy water to subside over the next week or two, but maximum turbine releases are still anticipated for the next month (or more). I am expecting the shad kill to start up fairly soon, and it could be a prolonged event this season due to the unusually cold temperatures of this fall coupled with the high water in the lakes. The next several months will offer up some great opportunities for streamer fishing on the White and Norfork, so give me a call if you are interested in seeing this fascinating bite in person – I love teaching people how to catch large fish on streamer patterns. Now back to business…
A monthly to bi-monthly newsletter is in the works, and this publication will detail the upcoming fishing forecast along with in-depth coverage of topics regarding becoming a more productive angler on the White River, Lake Taneycomo, the Little Red River and the Norfork Tailwater. The newsletter will also include promotions and unique product offers that will only be available to my subscribers, so please let me know if you are interested in receiving the newsletter via email. There will also be a version posted on the website, but it will not include the discounts or products.
As you may or may not know, the Ozarks have experienced an unusually wet fall and it looks like the water will be high for most of the time up until the beginning of February. Lake Taneycomo will offer the best chance at lower flows. The fishing for huge trout is consistently productive during high water as the fish receive little in the way of pressure and they will feed without inhibition. Our trout grow very fast during these extended periods of power generation, so look for 2010 to be another great year with respect to trophy trout on the entire White River System.
I will be offering special fly boxes through my newsletter. Currently, I am working on a selection of shad patterns just available to those receiving this email. These flies come in a Morell foam box and the price for the set is offered at a discounted rate. There will undoubtedly be a significant shad kill on our rivers this winter, so procuring one of these boxes is a good way to be prepared for this event which brings HUGE trout out of the woodwork. Even the biggest and most intelligent fish throw caution into the wind when shad become an easy meal.
This box includes fourteen patterns total:
2 – White Circus Peanuts (these flies retail for $6 at most fly shops)
4 – White Shad Daddy Flies
4- Davy Wotton Floating Shad Patterns
4- White Wooly Buggers
The total cost for this package is $36 and I will pay for the shipping. These boxes make for a great holiday gift.
Finally, I am rolling out a winter guide trip special. If you mention this promotion, you are entitled to $50 off of a single day of guided fly fishing on the White River, Lake Taneycomo, or Norfork Tailwater. I fish wherever the best bite is occurring and feel free to let me know if you have a preference regarding where we will spend our time. For those interested in two days of guided fishing, I am knocking $150 off of the total cost. So, the total price for one day of all-inclusive, guided fly fishing with this promotion is $300 and the price for two full days is $550. Please do not hesitate to give me a call if you have any further questions. This deal runs through January 20th, but I may extend it if there is enough interest.
2009 was a great year and I think that 2010 will be far better. I will be conducting a seminar about streamer fishin
g at this spring’s Sow Bug Roundup, so please stop by and say ‘hi’. This annual event attracts fly fishing enthusiasts and businesses from around the country and it is a great time to see old friends, make new friends, and spend some time on the local rivers. The Sow Bug will be held on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of March. My presentation will be on the 20th. Check out the North Arkansas Fly Fishers Web site at: http://www.northarkansasflyfisher.org/SBSeminar.html for more information.
I am interested in knowing what everyone thinks about the enhanced website, so never hesitate to drop me an email or give me a call. My overall goal with respect to the site is to create a valuable resource that will allow everyone the chance to experience more enjoyment when they spend time on our legendary trout fisheries – whether they hire me as a guide or not.
Your time is appreciated and I look forward to seeing every single one of you over the next year.