Newsletter for October/November
Amazing fall fishing continues in the Ozarks and an opportunity to speak my mind
Introduction
Well, as you call all effectively assume from this recent delay in getting the newsletter out, I’ve been very busy, but I know you will find this edition worth the wait. Between a hectic guiding schedule, personal fishing and other delays not worth mentioning, we are just getting around to publication. I can’t promise it won’t happen again, but I do realize that most of my readers have become accustomed to timely information, so it shouldn’t be so belated in the future. October is probably the busiest single month for fly fishing in the Ozarks because there is so much going on.
Fishing remains quite steady despite the fact that oxygen levels are still dropping on the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo; this is a direct result of a coordinated and concerted effort by the Corp of Engineers to keep the tailwaters fresh. As a result, we have not seen prolonged periods of dead-low water on any of the rivers that I frequently fish in a week or two. Although this is an inconvenience for those people intent on wading anywhere and everywhere, but the overall health of the fisheries is paramount to the desire of certain factions of anglers. Because 2010 has been a good water year (not too much and definitely not too little), there is enough “wiggle room” to allow for running idealized flows [from a dissolved oxygen perspective] during this critical time. Who knows how this new commitment towards water quality will be affected once the next low-water cycle hits the region, but for the rest of 2010 and into 2011, all of the Ozark trout fisheries should remain relatively healthy from a flow and oxygen perspective.
The reservoirs typically “turn over” in mid December, so it is at this time that we will have a clearer picture regarding how the fish fared through this year’s low dissolved oxygen season, and up until that point in time, expect fishing to get a bit more inconsistent. November is often bizarre on the rivers, with hot fishing one day and slow fishing the next, but this month is definitely when a lot of big fish are hooked – especially on the Norfork and Lake Taneycomo. Post-spawn brown trout will be looking to feed aggressively, and many of the large rainbows that spawn during the winter will also be trying to beef up. It will take patience and determination to find the fish and conditions that most fly anglers are seeking, but it can be done. Look for small windows of low to light water during some mornings and afternoons, but be aware that conditions can and will change drastically at the drop of a hat.
My guiding schedule for November is far less busy than it was in October, and the weather is still often quite warm during this time of year. Expect cool to cold temperatures during low-light times of the day, with some moderation occurring from late morning through the afternoon. It is advisable that if you are going to come down and fish over the next month that you are prepared for anything you might encounter from a fishing and water release perspective, and it will be very helpful to have easy access to a boat of some kind. Flows will be predictably unpredictable until the dissolved oxygen returns to healthy levels in December. Please let me know if you have any specific questions, as I am committed to helping every one of my readers make the most out of their Ozark fly fishing experience during the late fall and at any other time of year.
Promotions
Look for something sweet in December.
Guide Tips: How to effectively sight-fish during low-water conditions
Even though oxygen levels are low and the rivers may appear off color at times, there are still plenty of opportunities to sight-fish for large trout on any of the White River Basin Tailwaters. The trick is to find the fish and get into the right position; fly-selection is also critical because you want to utilize patterns that will sink to the fish’s feeding depth quickly while still floating naturally.
Obviously, the best areas are going to be where the current is slow and the water is relatively shallow because in fast or deep water, spotting fish while wading is pretty much impossible. Try to avoid stepping in the water if at all possible, and many of the area’s most savvy fly fishermen will commit to slowly perusing the banks in search of their quarry. Almost all of the spawning activity is done for on upper Lake Taneycomo and the Norfork (the browns on the White usually spawn much later), so as long as you avoid casting and stepping on the redds, it is a pretty safe bet that you will be able to fish ethically and not harm the wild fish potential of the fisheries.
When I sight-fish, the first thing I focus on is rigging up with an effective presentation. This almost always means using a singly fly rig because it is less likely to foul-hook a fish in shallow water, and it makes it much easier to keep track of exactly where my pattern is at any given point in the drift. Indicators need to be small and soft (when they are necessary for nymph techniques) to help avoid spooking wary and wily trout. Nymphs are going to produce the most consistently when going after visible fish, and small subsurface flies can often be presented to the same trout over and over again – I don’t condone beating the water to death, but there are plenty of times when a strike will come after multiple drifts through the same spot.
When it comes to positioning yourself and making a good cast to a visible trout, the first step is to try and approach the fish from behind – this way, it’s less likely to see you. Whether or not there are any obstructions in your back cast area, it is a good strategy to cast parallel to the bank until you are ready to let loose; then try and get your fly upstream and out past where the fish is positioned. If you cast too far out, simply drag the fly into the right spot. Once you accomplish these two steps, you can either watch the trout to see if it eats the fly or fixate on the indicator (if nymph fishing) and set the hook if the float stops, bobbles or submerges; keep in mind that setting the hook is a make or break moment, and if the fly isn’t in the fish’s mouth, it’s more than likely that it will spook and hastily swim away.
Sometimes after trying a few nymphs and even a dry fly or two on the same fish without any results, it may be time to “slam-dunk” a streamer in the trout’s face. Think of using a huge fly as your final approach, as this is also a do or die situation. Hopefully, this short guide will help many of you catch more fish in areas where they can be seen. There is an art to sight-fishing, and often simplicity is the key. If you are not already subscribed to the newsletter and are reading this on the Web site, go ahead and sign up to gain access to the Guide Secrets section which will tell you where I have seen the biggest fish over the last two weeks. This is definitely information that I keep close to my vest, so to speak, and it is intended for my loyal readers ONLY; hopefully it is clear as to why I keep this section just for those who subscribe.
Conservation Corner: Regulation strategies that should make everyone happy (Part One – Lake Taneycomo)
The slot-limit area that encompasses the first three miles below Table Rock Dam offers up the longest stretch of bait-free water in the Ozarks, and this regulation has really helped vastly improve a rainbow trout fishery that was struggling during the early 1990’s. There is one small technical wording issue with the way the rules are written that allows fishermen to keep up to FIVE ‘bows over 20-inches. I would like to see the harvest of any 20-inch trout – browns or rainbows – limited to one fish a day, but beggars can’t be choosers, and I consider us lucky that we have such an extensive stretch of quality water just miles from the hustle and bustle of the Branson Strip.
Unlike in Arkansas, there are no hook restrictions in the protected zone, so barbed treble hooks are allowed. This is more than likely why I see more trout with torn up mouths on the upper three miles of Lake Taneycomo than I normally see on all the water I fish on the White River and Norfork Tailwater. Perhaps a single-hook rule (with droppers allowed) would reduce unintentional mortality and deformation of so many fish, but this may be a bit nit-picky.
One of the biggest issues on Lake Taneycomo is the fact that the dynamics (and rules) allow boats of any size in every area. There is nothing like seeing a 250-hp bass boat flying towards where you are wading below the dam during low water conditions, and besides the sheer recklessness that I witness with respect to over-powered boats nearly every day, the wake caused by these vessels is causing serious erosion problems, especially on the upper two miles below the dam. Good habitat is at a premium in the slot-limit area, and it is important to realize that trout need quality banks and structure to grow to humongous sizes. For the sake of safety and the destruction of a few of the best banks/structured areas, it would make sense to keep the big boats limited to below Fall Creek. The habitat destruction is not really the primary concern in this respect, but I think we would all hate to see someone injured (or worse) due to the recklessness of a boat that is far too big for the upper reaches of the Table Rock Tailwater.
So many “old-timers” around here say that Taneycomo “is what it is” and reasonable changes in management and rules won’t make any difference, but I strongly disagree. Everyone has the right to a quality and safe fishing experience no matter what type of rig they prefer to use. The circus around the hatchery outlets is another big-time concern and deserves a separate article, but I will argue until I’m blue in the face if anyone tries to convince me that there are not significantly more people up there than there were ten to twenty years ago, and I find it a bit disgusting that so many people come to this river just to take advantage of fish that are instinctually susceptible. Despite what some may say, I can remember times when there would only be five or ten cars in the lot during a weekday in October, but this is certainly not the case anymore; now, you can multiply that number by ten, and weekends are virtually elbow to elbow.
Fishing is not just about catching the biggest or the most fish – it is about getting out in nature and having a good time. At some point, gluttony has become a real issue on all of the rivers I frequently fish, but it just always seems uglier on Lake Taneycomo. Again, I am thankful for what we have, but a few small changes could make a huge difference in the overall fun-factor and the aesthetics of this fishery. I’m relatively young and strong-headed, but please take away my gear and lock me in my house if I ever say that any fishery in need of help “is what it is”. There is no way I will allow myself to get this jaded and I will always fight for creating the best possible experience on coldwater rivers everywhere.
Conclusion
Well, that about sums it up and I must admit that I am proud of the positive influence I have been able to develop over the last year as a result of increased content and the addition of a newsletter. I will never shy away from controversy, especially where trout are concerned. Sure, I know that nothing is ever perfect – heck, they may soon allow motor boats on the hallowed stretches of the Henry’s Fork out in eastern Idaho, so there is never a dull moment anywhere when it comes to maintaining and protecting what so many people consider sacred: good quality trout water. Please feel free to contact me if you want to discuss anything in this newsletter further, whether you agree or disagree with my position. My goal is to educate by sharing much of what I’ve learned over my ten-plus years as a guide. To me this is the truly rewarding part of being a fly fishermen – catching a ten-pound brown of a 100 fish in a day is truly secondary to teaching how to make the most out of this wonderful sport.
