Complete White River Fly Fishing Website

Shout OUTS

Just wanted to say Happy 80^th Birthday to Russ. I had a great time with you guys.

Tying Class

No class as of right now. Should be back in full swing some time in the fall.

July 28 2011 
Updated Fishing Report for Taneycomo

It might be hot, but fishing remains “HOT” on Taneycomo

The last few days we have seen low water in the morning until noon. Who knows why, but I like it!! It makes for some great fishing  and from fishing the previous floods I’ve started to adapt to all types of conditions. Anytime we have long periods of high water and then it shuts down these trout go on a midge “frenzy”. The river shrinks and the fish get condensed so trout are easier to catch because they are potted up in groups cruising along the banks looking for midges and terrestrials.

Here’s the rest of the report………

Has Taney changed for the better or for the worst due to the high water flooding?

From what I can see, it looks like it has become more of a river, all the way through the entire regulated zone, from the dam to Fall Creek. There is so much more to do down behind the house’s at Point Royale. The gravel as filled in this whole area for about 200 yards, which has made a lot more wading spots. From what I can see there is a lot more shoal water and faster runs for tons of trout to hold in. This definitely should give the fisherman more to do downstream, if they can find a way to get down there and fish it. And trust me, I would. I should have more info to share once we get lower water for longer periods of time.

Updated Report for 6-22-11

An interesting day on Dry Run Creek in Arkansas and some other river information

I haven’t mentioned Dry Run Creek in awhile, but for those of you unfamiliar with the Ozark Tailwaters, Dry Run is a short fishery below Norfork Dam. Its waters are fed from pipes in Norfork Lake 100-feet deep before being run through the hatchery and then enter the Creek from a series of smaller pipes. Dry Run is restricted to anglers age 15 and under or to those who are handicapped (plus all fish must be released, and to fish there, fishermen can only use artificial and barbless flies, jigs or lures). Because of the nutrient-rich water in this small creek, coupled with the trout’s instinctive ‘urges’ to return to their nursery waters, Dry Run is absolutely loaded with fish that swim up from the Norfork Tailwater, and even though the ‘Creek fishes great all year long, some times of year are better than others.

Brief Taneycomo Fly Fishing Update for 6-22-11

My readers deserve to know about the interesting dynamics coupled with the unique cicada fishing still going on at Lake Taneycomo

I know I promised not to write so many back to back reports, but I wanted my avid followers, along with southwest Missouri fly fishing locals to know that you can get in about five or six hours of excellent fishing before the high water starts in the afternoon on upper Lake Taneycomo. In fact, there is some good wading possible during the mornings off several Islands – yes, with boat access; there is actually an enjoyable wading bite at first light. After the big rains we had just the other evening, the cicadas became quiet and it was rare to see the trout crashing the surface. But an end of the magic is apparently not in the works, as we had a great time fishing big dries on Taneycomo just today, and Cody hooked into nice brown on the first cast. One would think that the local anglers would be talking all about the cicada hatch, but I have heard virtually noting, and I do my best to stay in the loop. If the lower water and big bugs are prevalent for the next month or two, it is going to be a summer that will be remembered for quite awhile. As always, call or email me in the evenings (as I’m out on the river almost every day) for daily information, and I love to chat with my fellow anglers.

Quick Report for June 17th

The cicada bite is on fire, and NOW is the time to fish our 13-year Ozark version of the stonefly hatch

Yesterday was one of those days that was hard to believe. After a morning thunderstorm, I took a client out on Lake Taneycomo. Rarely do I write reports back to back, but I just had to get this information out to my readers. My guides are tying cicada patterns at every free moment, so we are ready to get out there for some incredible surface action.

Those of you who understand how the White River hatchery system works are aware that there are basically two types of rainbows that inhabit Lake Taneycomo: Federal fish that come from a hatchery in Neosho (a town in far southwest Missouri). These trout are small, lack color and rarely make it over fourteen inches. Then there is what they call a “Missouri Strain” that is raised at Shepherded of the Hill trout hatchery right below Table Rock Dam. These fish resemble a wild trout with their vibrant colors, fat bodies, full fins and strong fighting abilities. It seems like the majority of trout we are catching on cicada flies are from the hatchery below the dam, and yesterday, almost all the fish we landed were seventeen inches and over…it was truly a memorable experience.

Updated Report for May 27th

Despite extreme weather in the Ozarks, good fishing is expected to resume within a week

First of all, I wanted to send out my prayers and thoughts to all the people in Joplin and the other folks affected by the tornados that have plagued the Ozark region. It has been a rough time for many, but from a fly fishing perspective, the rains could have been a lot worse. Table Rock Lake has opened the gates relatively wide for the second time this month, and Bull Shoals Dam has followed suit with high releases of their own. Norfork Dam is still exclusively letting water over the top of the dam because of the work that is being done on its two generators, but flows over there somewhat resemble what it looks like when both units are running at full power. All of this water, coupled with the severe weather pattern that has persisted for most of May, has made fishing tough, and it just goes to show how drastically conditions can change on these rivers – it was just a month ago that fishermen were wondering how long the low water would last. Now, anglers are taking a ‘wait and see’ approach, and for all intents and purposes, the tailwaters where I take my clients are not fishable at the moment. Although this is a ‘worst case scenario’, once the water in the reservoirs stabilizes (which will hopefully happen in a week or less), I expect the conditions for using large streamers and bright nymphs to be perfect.

Most of the area resorts and guides based out of Arkansas are keeping their lips tight regarding the high water situation, but I always aim to be truthful and tell it like it is; I would hate for someone to plan a trip to the Ozarks based on sugar-coated or false information, only to find rivers that are above their banks and too dangerous to fish. Truthfully, Taneycomo and the White are running at levels that are rarely seen, but because the purpose of all the area impoundment projects is flood control, river levels are likely to drop significantly once the lake levels get below flood pool. When this happens on the White, I am expecting somewhat moderate flows in the two- to five-unit range to resume. I will keep everyone informed, and if this prediction plays out, the fishing should be just what I am always looking for with respect to big browns on the White River. Four-unit flows will be the ‘norm’ on Lake Taneycomo for quite some time, and it may take all summer before Table Rock Lake runs anything but maximum water through the generators. The Norfork and how it is going to fish next month is a mystery, as the river will be quite a bit warmer than normal with the flows feeding the trout waters coming from the top of the lake (not from the bottom, which is where the water normally originates when the generators are running), and my best guess (if they get both units fixed in June as predicted) is that it will take until August for the fishing to be its extremely productive self on the ‘Fork again. The ‘word on the street’ is that lots of white bass, walleye and stripers are being caught below Norfork Dam, which reflects the fact that the spillway releases have changed the fishery into one where warmer water species can prosper. Once cold flows resume, the lake fish will head into the White and go downstream until they find water that is suitably warm, but not before they gorge on lots of smaller trout.

Please do not hesitate to call me for up to date information, and there are going to be some wonderful trophy opportunities on the White River and on Lake Taneycomo starting in June and continuing through the summer. I will be heading to northern Michigan on May 29th and returning on June 3rd. The purpose of this trip is to pick up a new drift boat (I’m very excited about being able to take my clients out on a newer vessel), and I also plan on doing some trout fishing on the various rivers and streams in that area. My guiding schedule has slacked off since the flooding, so I’ve been tying flies commercially – be sure to check out my “for sale” selection (still updating the page) because you will not find better guide-tied patterns available to the public anywhere. Also, if you are interested in looking at some pictures I took when the floodgates at Table Rock Dam were open and dumping a lot of water into Lake Taneycomo, go to my blog. Sometimes, nature throws us a curve ball when it comes to fly fishing in the Ozarks, but I am committed to keeping a positive attitude. The dams (Taneycomo was affected the worst) have done their job of minimizing the impact of all the rain that the region has endured, and many lives and tons of property has been saved as a result. Natural, free-flowing rivers deal with flooding annually, and this process is good for both the fish and the river’s habitat. Sure, it may make the fishing a bit tough, but when it is all said and done, all the local tailwaters will be in great shape.

5-22-2011  Updated Report for the White River System

Despite the recent rains, the chances of catching a big brown are as good as ever

The flooding in the Mississippi Delta has been making national news for weeks now, and considering that the White River is a major tributary of this country’s largest of waterways, it is no surprise that we have had our fair share of rain in the Ozarks, as well. In the upcoming newsletter, I will go into to greater depth into how the flood control system works on the White and its tributaries, but in a nutshell: the periods after flooding events often are marked with low and clear water right below the dams. This is because the White River System projects have operational priorities, and their main purpose is to hold water back in order to minimize downstream flooding. Once the lakes crest, then the Corp of Engineers will let loose and start lowering the reservoirs down to power pool. Of course, a massive flood like we had around the beginning of May requires the use of extreme measures like the opening of the flood gates for a few days, but during a typical spring flood period, Beaver and Table Rock Dams dump their excess water into Bull Shoals reservoirs slowly, and there can be periods where the water on the lower White River will run remarkably light. During these times, the fishing can be fantastic.

Updated Fly Fishing Report for 4/28/11

Unbelievable flooding hits the White River Basin, but the outlook for May fishing is surprisingly good

Flooding is common in the Ozarks, but there have been several major events in 2008 and 2011 that have brought new meaning to the designation of what a “100-year flood” actually means. The hardest hit areas over the last few weeks have been in northwest Arkansas and south/central Missouri, but the entire White River Basin got hammered with up to ten inches of rain over the course of just a few days. On most river systems across the country, serious flooding would mean that fishing would be all but impossible for a month or more, but the dams on the White and its tributaries are doing their jobs. This is not to say that perfect conditions will prevail everywhere, but more than likely, the White and Norfork will fish very well through May.

The good…

Bull Shoals Lake has 45 feet of flood control space, and it still has 15 feet of storage left. This means that once Beaver and Table Rock Dams shut down their flood gates, there should still be some storage left at Bull Shoals Dam.Flood stage releases at Norfork and Bull Shoals are dictated by water levels 130 miles downstream of Bull Shoals Dam, and as long as the gauge height is above 12 feet, flows will be as minimal as possible to allow the White River to recede in an area where farming interests are a major concern. What this basically means is that until levels at Newport drop below the 12-foot level, the fishing conditions on the upper White will be excellent. Look for two to four units to run most days, and the water will be crystal clear. This is ideal streamer water for hooking up with big browns, and the nymph fishing conditions will also be excellent. I know that some of you are a little intimidated about the prospect of throwing big streamers on a nine-weight rod, but it is not as difficult as one would think. I make my living teaching anglers a variety of techniques that will give them the best shot at hooking into a trophy trout, and I’ve seen many neophytes have no problems doing what needs to be done to fish streamers effectively. Of course, if it’s just a bit too much to grasp, we can always go back to using nymphs and catching plenty of good fish.

The Norfork drainage is in a bit more precarious shape than the lower White River drainage, and currently the reservoir can only hold four more feet of water. Since there is no dam upstream of Norfork Lake to control flows, another good shot of rain will force the Corp of Engineers to open the flood gates in order to lower the lake in a hurry. Hopefully, this will not happen, and if flood releases do occur as a reactionary measure to a deluge, there is a chance that river-changing flows in the 40,000 (plus) cubic feet per second could happen. Still, pretty much every free-flowing river in the world is subjected to yearly flooding, and this process does not typically hurt the fish or the river. What heavy floods do accomplish is that they clean out loose gravel which improves spawning habitat and reestablishes the river channel. Of course, floodgate releases will make the river unfishable for a week or so, but with respect to this current flood scenario took place in 2008, the fishing bounced back in a hurry. Plus, the White’s unique dynamics allow us to fish wherever flows are likely to be the most productive on any given and offer up plenty of spots that almost always offer anglers excellent conditions…somewhere in the chain.

The bad…

At the moment, it appears that fishing below Table Rock Dam on Lake Taneycomo is going to be a no-go for quite awhile. When the gates were opened wide this week, the water inundated the parking lot near the outlets, and the river made its way all the way to the fence at the hatchery. This is probably the highest the river has ever been (or at least in recent memory) – only the top of the picnic pavilion below outlet number two was out of the water. Once the gates do close, the generators will still be kicking out the maximum amount of water that they can, and this will go on until the reservoir drops to 917 or 918 feet. This will be good for trout growth rates, but it will make for tricky fishing, perhaps all through the summer. Again, thank goodness for the White River below Bull Shoals Dam.

Another negative aspect of all the flooding is that it is unlikely that we will see any significant dead-low flow periods for quite awhile. This will put a dent in the plans of those who are restricted to wading only, but those with a boat will do just fine on the White and the Norfork. The fisheries will emerge in even better shape than they were when all the rain started, and by late summer when the water is likely to finally be low again, the fishing will be insane. This is something to think about as far as long-term planning. September and October will likely offer up some of the best wade fishing we’ve seen in years, and 2011 has already been remarkably good in that respect.

The Ugly…

Even though Bull Shoals Lake is still in relatively good shape with respect to storage, and all the generators are in working order, the Norfork is potentially facing quite a predicament. Both generators are out of service over there, and all twelve flood gates are being used to mimic the releases that would be occurring if this was not the case. At the moment, water temperatures are relatively good (high 50’s to low 60’s), but the lake is warming up by the day. If the generators are not fixed soon, the river could face an influx of warm and poorly-oxygenated water, which could end up stressing out the fish. It’s not time to worry yet, but if we encounter a situation where flood releases are necessary three weeks to a month down the road, it could be a different story. Let’s all hope that the generators get fixed as quickly as possible, as it seems very unlikely that flood releases will not be needed at some point in the near future at the ‘Fork.

Another scenario that could put a damper on late spring and summer fishing is if Bull Shoals Lake fills to capacity when the surface temperatures on the reservoir get into the 80’s. The generators will keep the water on the river cool near the dam, but it will warm up quickly, and the stretch from Cotter to Buffalo City could be compromised. This potential situation is not as dire as what could happen on the Norfork, but it is worth monitoring. Browns should do fine, as they tend to prefer warmer water temperatures, but the rainbows and cutthroats could suffer.

A Silver Lining…

There is absolutely no reason to panic if you have a trip planned to visit the White River Basin at any time over the next few months. You may have to be a bit more flexible with your plans, but there should always be many good options worth exploring. Please give me a call if you have any specific questions or concerns.

Also, the didymo (aka ‘rocks snot’) had returned to the upper end of the White, and this invasive type of algae is both hard on the fish and the subsurface foods that they feed on. After the unprecedented flooding of 2008, didymo was becoming an annoying issue for anglers, and fishing rising water meant motoring (or driving) far upstream to get away from trashy flows. After the gates were opened at Bull Shoals, which was followed by months of maximum releases through the dam’s turbines, the didymo all but disappeared, and we experienced several years where the trout on the upper White grew fat and strong. As mentioned above, free-flowing rivers go through flood cycles virtually every year, as this is part of nature’s plan, but when dams are built for flood-control, it changes the downstream waterways forever. We are lucky that man’s interference in this cycle has created a world-class trout fishery like no other, but there are other places around the world where such activities have not ended up working out so well.

It’s been a pretty wet spring from the east coast to the west coast, and there are very few places where the outlook for quality fishing in the near future is good. We have been through all of this before, and I, along with my guides, know exactly what to do and where to go when such situations arise. I will be doing video and written reports as often as possible to keep everyone abreast of this fluid situation, and I welcome any and all questions. The next month is looking good, and the early fall should be excellent. Both rivers that I fish in Arkansas are choked with browns in the 18- to 26-inch range, and there are bigger ones out there. Sometimes, what seems like a bad situation can turn good in a hurry, and I think that this is the case with respect to what the Ozarks have been going through over the last couple of weeks. Look for a detailed newsletter in the near future.

Updated report for 4/7/11

April fishing is living up to expectations…especially if you find the right water conditions

It has been a busy stretch for me over the last three weeks. I’ve been on the water guiding almost every day, and when I did get a day off, I usually ended up tying flies or preparing for the next trip. As I’ve said before, April is historically one of the best fishing months on the White River, Lake Taneycomo and the Norfork Tailwater, and this year is no exception. The action is especially good if the water is low, and if you are willing to be flexible with your plans, there has been dead-low water somewhere pretty much every day. All three of the lakes are around two feet below power pool, which means they have come up significantly in the last month. Releases at Bull Shoals and Table Rock Dams have been unpredictable, as the Corp seems to be in a pattern of running water for a few days on Lake Taneycomo, and then for the next few days, they run water on the White. So, fishing those rivers is a crapshoot if you are intent on wading. The Norfork has been steady recently with one unit running for a couple hours in the morning and a couple hours in the evening, but for the bulk of the day, the water is low. This type of pattern is ideal because the releases keep the fish fresh, and they are feeding heavily during low water, which has made for some excellent experiences over there recently.

Unfortunately, all good things eventually come to an end, and it will only take one decent rain event to push all three of the reservoirs that I fish below above power pool. When (or if) this happens, flows will likely vamp up and much higher water will persist until the lakes are drawn back down to the power pool level. This ‘vicious’ cycle is really only an issue if you are planning on wading; guides and others who utilize boats are used to the ups and downs of these fisheries. Many anglers prefer high water because that is when the biggest fish are caught due to the fact that the lunkers become less spooky and it’s possible to cover a lot more water in a boat. Still, if you want to get in on some of the best wade fishing that the area has seen in years, it is best not to dawdle because more than likely the spring rains are going to continue, barring some sort of miraculous ‘mini-draught’, which is highly unlikely to occur.

Last Friday, I took out the same writer/photographer from Eastern Fly Fishing Magazine that I fished with a few weeks ago on Taneycomo. This time, we floated for a half day on the White. Both of us were intent on throwing streamers to try and entice some big browns, but the conditions never materialized. On the float from Wildcat Shoals to Cotter, we faced light one-unit flows, so the bigger fish reacted much the same way they do when the water is low: spooky and scattered. It was still a fun day to be out on the river, and when going for big trout, not every outing is going to be a roaring success; especially when the depth and speed of the water is completely unpredictable. The following day I took out some of my regular clients, Zimm and Fritz, and we floated the Norfork on low water, which basically means that we used the drift boat to fish out of in the deep stretches, and then we would get out and wade in the riffles and shallow areas. It was a great time and both guys caught lots of trout. The Norfork is ‘back’ as a world class fishery, and because the White has been low for extended periods at times (which causes the water to warm up significantly near its confluence with the Norfork), a lot of nice trout will seek out the colder water on the ‘Fork. So consequently, the Norfork is absolutely loaded with fish from top to bottom. The following day I took Zimm and Fritz out again on a short, half-day float from Bull Shoals State Park down to Gaston’s Resort. It’s never boring fishing with these guys, so of course we had fun, along with catching some chunky rainbows.

Last Tuesday, Darren took a couple of my clients out on Lake Taneycomo in the drift boat because I had a prior obligation, and they caught lots of pretty ‘bows fishing the banks and eddies. There were two units running, so I know he worked hard to stay in the fish. The highlight of the trip was when one of the guys landed a nineteen-inch brown. This is not a common catch this time of year in the slot-limit area just below the dam, and it definitely made everyone’s day. I really think that Darren has what it takes to be a truly special fly fishing guide, and I have total confidence in his abilities. It’s nice to be able to work with such a diligent student of the sport, and I’m thrilled to have him on the Taneycomo Trout team.

My most recent trip was yesterday (Wednesday, the 6th of April), and I had planned on fishing Lake Taneycomo. But when I met up with my client, they were running water at Table Rock Dam, but the Norfork had been shut down. Although it took a little bit of driving, it was totally worth the effort to go down to Arkansas and hit the Norfork. My client’s name was Rick, and we had one of those days that we will both remember indefinitely. He caught lots of fish and some real beauties, including a seventeen-inch cutthroat, a seventeen-inch rainbow, couple of browns and a pretty brook trout to complete the Ozark Grand Slam. At one point, we were at the end of a long, deep pool, and Rick made a cast into shallow water that was beyond the deep lane we were trying to fish. His immediate reaction was to pick up the line and make another shorter cast, but I was able to show him that it’s easier and takes much less time to just gently lift the rod and pull the rig out of the shallows and then immediately drop the rod once his strike indicator was back out in the deep slot. Immediately after he lowered the rod and the drift started to unfold is when the big cutthroat of the day hit…if he had made another cast, he never would have caught that trophy, and it just goes to show how important it is to do whatever it takes to keep your line in the water. In fact, I’ve never seen one fish ever caught while casting. If you get a chance to fish the Norfork, the river is on fire, and there seems to be an abundance of cutthroats in the catch and release area. The next few weeks are possibly going to offer up the best wade fishing of the year on that river, especially if it continues to rain every four or five days and the lakes keep creeping up.

Here's what Rick had to say;


I recently fished with Jeremy Hunt on the Norfork River in Arkansas.  I have used several guides, over the years, and Jeremy his hands down the best!  My guided experience was one of the best days of fly fishing I have ever had!  Jeremy put me onto a Norfork grand slam.  In addition to catching close to 50 fish, we caught quality cutthroat’s browns and rainbows. Jeremy helped to supplement my repertoire with the Miracle Fly.  This fly caught several of the bigger fish for the day.  The Miracle Fly has a great sink rate that triggers many strikes on the fall, so  be ready once it hits the water for some quick action. Another great feature about the Miracle Fly is that it doesn’t snag much, so you don’t lose many of these great flies. 

I also learned a few important lessons on this latest slew of guide trips. First of all, it is always worth it to go where the water conditions are the best. This may seem obvious, but keep in mind that I live over an hour from the White and the Norfork, but Taneycomo is in my backyard. It would be easy to settle with staying close to home, but I want to do right by my clients at any cost, even if it means doing quite a bit of extra work. There are no shortcuts when it comes to fly fishing, and success will come to those who pay attention to the big and small details. It’s easy to cut corners, but that is usually when a large trout is lost or a great day is missed out on. I will never change my philosophy regarding meticulous planning, and I promise that no matter how the fish are biting, those who choose to go on a guide trip with me (or a member of my guide team) will have fun and be a better fly angler at the end of the day than they were when the day started.

***I am currently selling customized, hand-weighted hooks for tying the Miracle Fly. For those that are new here, check out this article for an introduction into how this phenomenon really got started. Then, go to the order page for information on buying the hooks or the finished flies. The Miracle Fly is a great pattern that will catch trout of all sizes on any type of water. It really doesn’t matter what level of fly angler you are – it is worth carrying this pattern with you wherever you are fishing because it can make or save the day.

Updated Report for 3-22-11

As the lakes start to creep up, water flows are becoming inconsistent on the rivers

What a wild last two weeks it has been on the White River, Lake Taneycomo and the Norfork Tailwater. Between driving back and forth from Branson to northern Arkansas for guide trips, while getting ready for my Sow Bug Roundup streamer presentation, I haven’t had much time to just relax…and I’m still producing commercial fly orders by the 1000’s. This is what being a guide is about, and in no way am I complaining. I love the busy season in the Ozarks, and compared to fisheries out East and out West, where they may really only have a three-month peak, we have good, clear water to fish almost every day of the year. That is one of the most unique attributes of these tailwaters, and because water levels vary so much from day to day and year to year, there is always something new to learn. Once an angler thinks that they know it all with respect to the sport of fly fishing, it’s time to hang up the waders and find something else to do; the constant learning and adaptations that accompany fishing any river, lake or stream are what being on the water is all about.

Although we haven’t had a lot of rain this month, the area has seen enough precipitation to cause the lakes to come up several feet - Bull Shoals, Table Rock and Norfork Reservoirs are still around four to five feet below power pool levels, but that can change in a heartbeat. With several notoriously wet months ahead of us, the Corp of Engineers is in a position where they can run water when there is electrical demand, and this March has been no different than any other March in the past where the water runs all day at one of the dams. But flow levels have not been excessively high during periods of generation. This year, releases have primarily toggled between Table Rock and Bull Shoals Dams. There have been several extended periods of low water below at each of these tailwaters where the water stayed low for days on end, but like usual, we expect the unexpected. Conversely, very little water has been let through Norfork Dam this month, so there has always been a place for those who are restricted to wading to go and wet a fly.

On Monday (yesterday), when I put the boat in at Wildcat Shoals, the water started coming up almost immediately. The Southwest Power Administration forecast, which is known for being inaccurate, gave the impression that one or two units were going to be operating, so this rise was not a big surprise. But when flows crested at the four-unit level, I wasn’t sure exactly what was going to happen. By the time we got rigged and headed downstream, the river was running a ‘nice’ shade of brown – this is not normally what you want. But in typical, enigmatic White River fashion, the browns were extremely aggressive, and we caught four that ranged from 20 to 24-inches, including a good one in the first twenty minutes, which started the day off right. Since the water had been low for four straight days prior to this point, the browns most likely had been lounging in the deep holes and did not feed a lot. Then, when the water came up, these predators turned on and became aggressive. Many fly fishermen think that black flies are the way to go in dark water, but we nailed all those big brown trout on Bucktail Rainbow Streamers.

After our White River float, I decided to take my clients over to the Norfork. We fished the upper end for a couple hours while the river was low and then the water started coming up around 5pm. The flow was extremely trashy because so many people had been wading over there for weeks on end, but just like on the White, this dynamic caused the bigger fish to start feeding, and we caught another trophy brown. All in all, it was a great day, but I am a bit concerned by the amount of didymo that was floating down the White. This invasive species of algae can form mats on the river bottom that suffocate aquatic insects, and didymo negatively affected the growth rates on the White River’s rainbow trout population several years ago. Long periods of really high water seem to flush it out, but I just hope that this isn’t a negative trend. Like always, I want to paint a realistic picture of the fisheries I work and play on. There are ways to avoid or minimize how didymo affects the fishing on any given day, and I will keep everyone updated on the situation. So far, there has been no didymo seen on Lake Taneycomo, and there is almost none on the Norfork. In order to keep it this way, anglers need to wash their waders whenever they switch from one fishery to another, and there are new, non-felt wading boots available that are designed to inhibit the transport of this nasty stuff. Everyone can make a difference when it comes to curtailing the spread of didymo.

Updated Report for 3-9-11

Ozark reservoirs are rising slightly, but river fishing on low water is still excellent

Even though there have been some moderate rains across the region since the last report, all of the lakes in the White River System are still below power pool, and the fly fishing remains fantastic on the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo. Some water has been running on the White, but not very hard (one or two-unit levels), but below Table Rock and Norfork Dams, the releases have minimal almost all day, every day, with the occasional spurt of “fish water” that lasts just a few hours in the early morning or evening hours. Anglers have plenty of choices when it comes to finding good spots to wade, although the wind direction is playing a major role in the quality of the fishing.

Updated Report for 2/22/11

Low water and windy conditions make for some awesome fishing on the White

A few days ago, I took a couple of my regulars out to fish on the White River at Rim Shoals. The water was dead low after over 24 hours of no generation at Bull Shoals Dam, and by the time we got to the ramp, the wind was blowing HARD out of the south.

We rigged up and got out on the water as quickly as possible. Since the wind was blowing upstream, I did not have to do much rowing to get up near the shoal at Jenkin’s Creek. We meticulously worked our way downstream, fishing out of the drift boat, and we were picking up quite a few rainbows on pretty much any nymphs we drifted below an indicator. There was no point in fishing the moving water areas during the middle of the day because they were packed, but by moving away from the masses, we were able to basically have hundreds upon hundreds of yards of prime water to ourselves.

After hammering fish just above the middle island, I snuck around the backside; rowing my hardest just to get downstream into an area that sees very little in the way of pressure because it is difficult to access on foot or with a heavy river boat. Throughout the rest of the afternoon, we caught as many fish as we cared to catch, and I know we were approaching triple-digits by the time we called it a day. We did get out and wade in a few of my favorite spots, but primarily, we used the drift boat to meticulously work every deep hole and cover as much water as possible. The guys I took out had fished with a different guide near Gaston’s Resort the day before, and although they worked harder with me, their productivity was two-fold at Rim Shoals – it always pays to get away from what the status quo is doing and stick with the patterns, spots and techniques that you know will produce fish based on the conditions at hand.

By the end of the day, we were all pretty exhausted from battling winds that were frequently gusting over 30 miles per hour, but the fishing couldn’t have been any better. The entire White River is full of chunky rainbows, and there are good browns everywhere, as well. Although it would have been nice if the winds were a bit more relaxed, it just goes to show how excellent the fishing can be when the water is low and the wind is blowing upstream. The wind-chop creates cover for the trout, so they almost always are actively cruising in search of food when conditions are like this. If the wind had been coming from the north, it would have affected where and how I fished, as the current would have been much faster. There are so many little tricks that one learns from spending years on the same stretches of water, and this is why hiring a guide pays off with respect to learning how to approach any fishery in the country based on the conditions and the type of water you are fishing. A lot of guys avoid the long, slow pools like a plague, but these are the areas to be when it’s windy; plus, most of the big fish will hang out in the deeper cuts when the river is dead low.

The fishing is amazing right now, and March is typically a better month than February, especially for larger browns. It will be windy most days, but as you can tell, that is a good thing if the water is low. The Norfork is also fishing well, and because that river is smaller and more protected than the White, it often offers a respite on days when the winds are absolutely brutal.

Some final points…

* I will be putting on an extensive streamer presentation at this year’s Sow Bug Round up on Saturday morning (March 19th). This annual event held in Mountain Home, Arkansas is like a small fly fishing convention, and it is a great chance to learn more about the sport, try all the latest gear and equipment, and to meet many of the sport’s luminaries.

Be sure to stop by and check out as many presentations as you can before hitting the water, and if the lakes stay low, both rivers should be perfect for wading during the entire event. My seminar is called “Streamer Fishing for Big Fish”, and it is designed to quickly help interested anglers become proficient at all the different ways that streamers can be fished, along with basic explanations on how to tie some of my most effective patterns.

For more information on the Sow Bug Round, check out their complete Web site at:

http://www.northarkansasflyfisher.org/SB%202008.html

* There is still time to sign up for the on-stream skills workshop on March 12th , which is a full day of learning as much about fly fishing the Ozarks as possible. To check out more about what this value-oriented day is all about, please click this link.

* I will also be hosting one class a month during the prime time season of my guiding schedule because these classes are getting some great response so I feel it is important to keep them going all year. The classes are held at Shepherd of the Hills trout hatchery from 2pm to 4pm on Saturdays only. March 12th  is our next class for the month of March, and it will be tied in to the on-stream skills workshop, as well.
 
Newsletter for Feb/March is out on the site. The full version is being sent out tonight for subscribers only. Enjoy!!

* Please give me a call or drop me an email if you need any more information about any of these fun, upcoming learning opportunities or if you have any detailed questions.

Updated Report for 2/17/11

Playing the numbers game on Lake Taneycomo, an important meeting regarding potential didymo problem in the Ozarks and an exciting new fly fishing opportunity in Missouri through Flys and Guides

Culling through ‘Federally’ stocked rainbows on Lake Taneycomo

Those who have fly fished on upper Lake Taneycomo have dealt with this ‘nuisance’ below Table Rock Dam for many years: the influx of small stocker rainbow trout that are periodically stocked on the tailwater from the Federal hatchery in Neosho, Missouri. There eight to 12-inch fish seem to be put into the river by the thousands several times annually, and the fact that the Federal stockers ‘bows don’t fight hard, lack color and have a tendency to ‘steal’ flies away from the bigger trout can make the fishing experience on Taneycomo somewhat annoying for everyone who is used to catching the chunky, uniquely-colored and exceptionally strong fish that are the ‘norm’ for most of the year. Unfortunately, the upper section has become inundated with these cookie-cutter stockers of late, as we recently found out on a guide trip last weekend.

It may come off as being spoiled to complain about days where my clients get a bite on virtually every drift, and in reality, such an experience can be a real confidence builder for those new to the sport, but for those anglers who have grown accustomed to the fantastic fly fishing on Lake Taneycomo, catching one stocker after another can end up being a bit of a letdown. Luckily for my customers that I had out last week, they did get into a few really nice rainbows in the 18-inch range, and we did end up having a wonderful day on the water. But I did want to forewarn the people planning on a trip down to Branson to take advantage of the daily low water that these small stockers are virtually everywhere. The best way to target the bigger trout that are around is to use large streamers and gaudy dry flies, as playing the ‘numbers game’ gets old when the sheer amounts of freshly stocked trout are so high.

I’m sure a lot of you are wondering why a river that is always loaded with tons of fish would need any more, and the answer to this question is somewhat complicated. Before the slot-limit was implemented on the upper three miles of the tailwater, Taneycomo was known for being a small rainbow ‘factory’, and the practice of dumping Federally-raised fish from the facility in Neosho has been going on for years to ensure a prolific put-and-take fishery. The trout that come from the state-run Shepherd of the Hills hatchery below Table Rock Dam are stocked at larger sizes; so large, that anglers wishing to take a few rainbows under twelve inches home to eat often have a hard time finding any that small. So, the Federal stocking program serves both an outdated and functional purpose, and there are some upsides to this practice. First off, this abundance of small rainbows act as a forage base for Taneycomo’s big browns, and this is one main reason that the brown trout grow so big so quickly. Another plus for the Federal rainbows is that they also grow fast because of all the scuds and sow bugs, and this makes Taneycomo one of the least likely places to get skunked in the world of trout fishing. On the downside, having so many fish in the river can put a strain on the habitat, but I am not a biologist, so I don’t know how much of a role this plays in the growth of the state-stocked browns and rainbows.

Usually, these periods of excessively small fish are only noticeable for several weeks to a month, depending on if the water is high or low and how much harvest is taking places. Regardless, the action is pretty intense right now, and I will keep my readers updated on the situation. We have started to see extended periods of low water, and this trend should continue with all the mild weather we are experiencing. If you like to wade pleasant days and catch loads of fish, the angling is hard to beat, and there are still plenty of big rainbows around to keep things interesting.

Learn about the negative impacts of didymo at a Missouri Department of Conservation open house

With more and more people travelling to fly fish different destinations, didymo is starting to become a serious problem on trout fisheries around the world. Didymo is an invasive form of algae that has the endearing nickname of “rock snot”. This is because it is a very slick substance that can literally suffocate the natural habitat of a river or lake and severely stifles the growth of underwater insects and other subsurface life forms. There is a long-running debate regarding how didymo is spread, but many biologists believe that it clings to waders, felt-soled wading boots and other gear that gets in contact with the water. Since this growth is harder to kill than a cockroach, it is imperative that anglers clean their gear before moving from one fishery to another.

Long stints of high water seem to help at eradicating didymo, but as soon the water slows and warms, it often comes back. In the mid 2000s, the Bull Shoals Tailwater became inundated with didymo, especially right below the dam. Although trout populations did not seem to decline, growth rates were negatively affected, most likely as a result of the dwindling numbers of scuds and sow bugs that were suffocated by huge mats of didymo – these food sources are what enable White River Basin trout to grow so fat. Midges seemed to fair pretty well, but over a three year period, catching a really big fish near the dam became a rarity. Several years of high water flushed the didymo out temporarily, but with this year’s impending low water, there is concern.

The Missouri Department of Conservation is holding several open houses in March and April to talk about the didymo issue, and all anglers who care about the future of our trout fisheries are encouraged to attend, if possible. Possible gear restrictions and other solutions will be discussed. If you cannot make it to one of these meetings, be sure to click this link to see the letter I received regarding this threat.

Flys and Guides is now offering hosted guide trips on the North Fork of the White River

I have had the opportunity to spend the last three days floating several different sections of the North Fork of the White River near Tecumseh, Missouri. This river offers the longest free-flowing stretch of trout habitat in the state, and it gives anglers the opportunity to see what the White River Basin Tailwaters looked like before the dams were built. At one point in time, the North Fork of the White was considered one of the premiere trout streams in the country, and it is still a magnificent fishery that receives very little in the way of fishing pressure.

Other upcoming events:

The March 12th On-stream Skills Workshop

The Fly tying meeting at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery is the Saturday, February 19th 2011

Spring is in the Air…Well, Almost

Start out the year with Taneycomo Trout’s on-stream workshop

The weather in the Ozarks has been frightful for the last three weeks, which has forced me inside to tie flies, but spring is definitely on its way. In facts, temperatures next week are predicted to be in the 60’s, and we usually see days warmer than that in February. To start the season off, we are going to be offering an on-stream workshop on Lake Taneycomo (click on the link for detailed information). We can accommodate up to twenty anglers, and this is a great chance to get on the water with [two] professional guides who are there to show everyone the “tricks of the trade” when it comes to catching trout on any of the Ozark tailwater trout fisheries.

This will be the only on-stream workshop  in 2011, so be sure to reserve your spot early. The event will be held on March 12th, which is a Saturday. So, why not plan a perfect fly fishing weekend by applying all that you have learned on Saturday by fishing on your own on Sunday? We are expecting much lower water this year, and there is a back-up plan in place if the water is running unexpectedly on the 12th. The cost is just $60 per person, and newsletter subscribers will receive $10 off. Lunch is [not] included.

We hope to see everyone come out for this one of a kind opportunity, and please feel free to contact Jeremy Hunt for further details at (417) 294-0759. Also, look for an updated report to be posted in a few days, and a February newsletter is in the works. If you haven’t signed up for this monthly periodical, now is the perfect time; subscribers receive special offers and exclusive content.

One more thing to mention, if you are a streamer junkie, Jeremy will be holding another streamer clinic at this years Sowbug Round-up on Saturday morning starting at 9:30 am. Click here to find out the schedule and other details that will be at this years Sowbug Round-up. You don;t want to miss out on this!!

Updated Report for 12-26-10
HOT brown trout action continues on the White
 
I hope that everyone has had a great holiday season so far, and it has been nice to spend time relaxing over this last weekend with my family and friends. Last Wednesday and Thursday I had the chance to guide a great guy named Dan from central Michigan in Arkansas. Because I only had one client in the boat, I also invited my friend and longtime White River guide, Tom Rogers, along for the trip. Although these two days on the water would eventually turn out to be some of the finest brown trout fishing I have ever witnessed on any of the Ozak coldwater rivers, it didn’t start out this way…
 
When Tom and I picked up Dan that first morning, I explained the options on the table: either fish the White for big brown trout, or go to the Norfork where we would likely catch lots of fish with the possibility of finding a lunker. Because many of my clients have caught plenty of small to medium-sized trout before, their usual answer is to go for the larger fish, but I make sure to explain that it will take plenty of work and perseverance in order to realize success. Dan was up for the challenge, so we put in at Wildcat Shoals Access with plans to float down to Cotter. Because Bull Shoals Dam had released light amounts of water over the entire previous night, I figured that the morning surge would just bring the flow up a few feet for a couple of hours, but since you never know what the water is going to look like on these rivers until you get to the ramp, I was a bit apprehensive. It turned out that my worries were well-founded.

Updated Report for 11-11-10

Happy Veteran’s Day – Taneycomo Trout and Flys & Guides Recognizes All of Your Heroic Sacrifices

As the Ozarks makes its transition into the cooler months of late fall and winter, all things related to fly fishing are starting to slow down, including my guide schedule. Fishing continues to be good most of the time, and we are just now starting to see some low-water days on Taneycomo and the White River. Releases below Norfork Dam are still inconsistent, with the best shots at extended wading opportunities coming on the weekends. If you are after a chance at a really big brown or rainbow, the next three months are going to be ‘prime time’, but come prepared for chilly mornings and inconsistent flows. Once the lakes turn over in December, a predictable release pattern will start to emerge, with the heaviest water running when the demand for electricity is at its peak – usually in the mornings, evenings and when the region is in the grips of unusually cold weather.

I want to announce a few seasonal changes with respect to how I am going to be posting information on my site. At this time of year, I primarily focus on fly tying – for both use on future guided trips and to supplement my income (orders are coming in by the 1000’s). I will not have the time to post reports as often as I do during the spring, summer and early fall. That said, please feel free to call or email me at any time for the most current trends; I’m always eager to point my readers in the right direction. There will still be occasional fly fishing reports posted for the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo, but most of the comprehensive content will be in the monthly newsletters. There are plenty of openings for guide trips, and keep in mind that the Ozarks is a region that can be quite mild throughout the winter. This makes it possible, especially for those who live relatively close to southwest Missouri and northern Arkansas, to plan last-second excursions based on predicted temperatures and prevailing water conditions. Never hesitate to drop me a line if you get some time and think that you might want to get in on some of the least crowded trophy fishing of the year. Also, I will keep everyone updated on the shad-kill and other events that present unique fly fishing opportunities with respect to catching a lot of big fish.

From now until the beginning of February, I am going to try something a little different by offering several long-running guided trip specials for veterans and newsletter subscribers. I have become quite involved in Project Healing Waters, where guides donate their time taking wounded veterans out on the rivers, and these events have really opened up my eyes to just how much members of our armed forces give us all in order to secure America’s safety and stability. Please click on the link in the previous sentence to learn more about this wonderful way of giving back to those who sacrifice so much. I am also very thankful for those who have become actively involved in my Web site, as my readers are responsible for making 2010 my best year yet as a guide. Below, the special prices for veterans and newsletter subscribers are listed – this is my way of hopefully getting some folks on the water who could not otherwise afford the learning experience of fishing with a professional… or for those just looking for an added incentive to get out on our prolific rivers during the slower months as a cure for cabin fever.

Veteran’s Special: A full-day of guided fly fishing on whichever river is offering up the best fly fishing for $150 (Taneycomo) and $175 (Arkansas). There is no limit on the number of days that can be booked, and only one member of the party needs to be a war veteran.

Newsletter Subscriber Special: A full-day of guided fly fishing on whichever river is offering up the best fly fishing for $200 (Taneycomo) and $250 (Arkansas). Besides having access to exclusive newsletter articles, this is yet another reason to sign up, if you haven’t already – simply enter your email in one of the many spots throughout the site and you are all set.

***Both specials will run until February 1st, and you must make it clear at the time of booking that you are either a veteran or newsletter subscriber in order to get this substantial discount.

And for those of you who forgot… The second of our fall/winter fly tying classes will be held  (Friday, November 19th) in the conference area at the Shepherd of the Hills trout hatchery directly below Table Rock Dam. If you can’t make it to this event, please check the site frequently for the dates and times of upcoming classes – they will be held once or twice each month, usually on the weekends.

Updated Report for 10-26-10

Follow-up to yesterday’s report regarding the brown trout run on Lake Taneycomo

This morning I had the opportunity to chat with Clint, the man in charge of Shepherd of the Hills Trout Hatchery below Table Rock Dam. He is the authority when it comes to every aspect of this fishery, and our conversation was enlightening, to say the least. Basically, it is likely that the brown trout spawning run on Taneycomo is over for this year, but there will still be a few stragglers making their way towards their nursery waters, so anglers still have a shot of hooking into a behemoth right below the dam. There is a lot of ‘local’ chatter going around that makes the assertion that the run hasn’t even started yet, but according to observations and statistics accumulated (and analyzed) by hatchery personnel from this year and year’s past, the peak of the spawn was several weeks ago, so the number of browns on the upper end is most probably going to be on the decline. This would explain the fact that most of the fish on redds are gone, and it also confirms what I witnessed yesterday when it appeared that the pods of staging and spawning fish had virtually left the area overnight.

I want to cover a few other interesting tidbits that Clint and I discussed, and hopefully this will put an end to the majority of hearsay and conjecture that is circulating across the Internet and in fly fishing hangouts throughout the Ozark region. First off, 2010 was the first highly successful year for the brown trout spawning run on Lake Taneycomo since 2007. This is could have a little something to do with the trout getting used to utilizing the new fish ladder (installed circa 2006), but the primary reasons for this year’s success is mostly a result of decent amounts of high water, which allows the browns easy access to the fish ladder, coupled with favorable water temperatures in the tailwater. 2008 and 2009 were both incredibly high rainfall years, and when the Corp of Engineers is forced to release heavy flows over consecutive months, the reservoir can literally run out of cold water. During the prior two spawns, water temperatures in the river (and in the hatchery) were over 60-degrees by October; this is way over ideal incubation temperatures of 52-degrees or less. Interestingly, there were periods over the last two years when surface water temperatures on Table Rock Lake were exactly the same as the temperatures where water is drawn through the dam and into the river at the penstock level, which is over 160 feet deep.

Clint also mentioned that over 200 fish have been collected in the ‘pond’ above the fish ladder and very high-quality eggs and ‘milk’ have been collected so far, with more cultivation planned for the immediate future. He said there were plenty of huge fish that made it all the way back to the hatchery this year, and 80 made it up there just this last weekend alone – this explains where many of the pigs went to – here today, gone tomorrow, so to speak. Finally, we both talked about ways to improve returns through possible regulation changes, including simple ideas such as limiting anglers to one fly during the spawn and more radical concepts like closing key spawning areas like the outlets during the peak of the run. These issues will be officially discussed at Missouri Department of Conservation meetings next June, but there is never a bad time for making recommendations directly to the agency or through organizations like Trout Unlimited. Also, feel free to email me any thoughts that you may have. If everyone works together and looks at the big picture, there is a very good chance that some slight sacrifices by fishermen during the spawn could result in the resurrection of year-round trophy fishing like what was enjoyed 10 to 15 years ago. If I find out what type of returns were observed during that time period, I will be sure to let everyone know; my guess is that they were exponentially higher than what we are seeing currently.

The Ultimate ‘Cure’ For Cabin Fever – Fly tying classes will be starting up again next month

A lot of people have been asking about when fly tying classes will be commencing for the late fall and winter, and after working out a bunch of details with John Miller at the hatchery, I finally have a definitive answer. The first class will be on Friday, November 19^th between 2pm to 4pm at the hatchery, and this event will be an opportunity for everyone to share some big fish stories, as the meeting will start off with a mini-seminar discussing this year’s brown trout run. We will also tie up some of the most productive patterns, and this will likely be the only meeting of the year where a good percentage of time will be spent discussing fishing and flies in lieu of strictly tying. I know that many folks have to work on most Fridays (myself included), so starting in December, we will try and schedule the classes in the evenings or on the weekends.

The following month, the topic will be “Bull Shoals Tailwater [the White River] tactics, flies and techniques”, and this meeting will be on December 4^th from 2pm to 4pm at the hatchery. Due to the popularity of these get-togethers, we will try to have at least two a month. I have also been talking to Phil Lilley about strengthening the Trout Unlimited Chapter here in Branson, and we are kicking around the idea of adding a fly tying component to those monthly meetings to encourage education and so that there is some time for relaxing and socializing after current business is conducted. I will keep everyone updated regarding our progress in this regard, along with posting dates and times for both the fly tying classes and TU meetings.

I’m excited about what I learned today from Clint at the hatchery, and it’s nice that these passionate trout gurus are so accessible and eager to talk about our beloved regional coldwater rivers. All trout fisheries go through their ups and downs, but the future for Lake Taneycomo looks bright, primarily because there is a renewed interest in restoring the upper end back to its “former glory”. Of course, the fishing right now is pretty spectacular, but there is always room for improvement. Tonight, I will be dreaming about the fun and excitement we had in 1998 and the possibility of being privy to that type of quality angling experience again in the near future.  With a lot of work (and fun along the way), we will hopefully soon see another peak with big rainbows and browns stacked up literally everywhere below Table Rock Dam.

Opening the Vault – Fly Tying Tips

I’ve decided to write about tidbits of “inside” information in an effort to help my readers catch more fish, and this new feature will coincide with the “Guide Secrets” section exclusively available to those that subscribe to the newsletter. To start this off, I want to go back to that epic day I had while guiding on the Norfork last week. Mistakenly, I forgot to mention that we caught many of those nice fish in the catch and release section on dry flies. A lot of people think that surface activity peaks in the late spring and early summer, but the fact is, it’s possible to catch Ozark trout on dries any time of year when the water is low. True, the biggest bugs are out in the spring when temperatures really start to warm up, and this makes it much easier for anglers to catch fish on top because they can throw highly visible flies. During the fall and winter, most of the insects hatching are REALLY small which makes fishing the surface a much more difficult proposition for anglers of all skill levels.
 
A good strategy to realize some success when the hatches of midges and caddis are minuscule is to utilize “cluster” patterns like Cracklebacks and Griffith Gnats; both of these flies imitate groupings of midges that naturally cling to each other on all of the White River Basin tailwater trout fisheries. A lot of fishermen run into problems tying these patterns in such a way that will enable them to float high and dry, cast after cast. My tying solution is to utilize extra wraps of hackle and to pre-treat each fly with fly floatant or silicone the night before I plan on using it. The Cracklebacks that hammered fish on the Norfork last week were tied on a size #16 hook (the midges hatching were in the size #26 to size #40 range) and I used about 14 wraps of hackle – most fly tiers use half as many wraps. This fly was easy to see, even in moving and foamy water, and it took just a few false casts to dry it out for the next presentation. Even though it takes a bit more time to tie a Crackleback (or a Griffith’s Gnat) this way, it makes for much easier fishing in the long run. Little changes in how anglers approach the sport of fly fishing can make a huge difference in their success rates, and it makes little sense to tie dry flies that start to sink after just a drift or two.

Back to the fishing…

A few days ago, I had the rare opportunity to fish with Summer, so we pulled the drift boat down to the White River for a float from Bull Shoals Dam to Wildcat Shoals. The water was low when I put in at the dam, and we did fairly well fishing in the lower part of the catch and release area and in Bull Shoals State Park. At 4pm, several generators kicked on and we got stuck in trashy water. Summer and I don’t give up easily, and we methodically worked streamers along the bank and near structure until well after dark. The fishing wasn’t very good – in fact, it was downright slow, but we did hear some loud “crashes” on white patterns throughout the evening float. Near the end of our journey, I finally hooked into a big fish that turned out to be a 24-inch brown. This pig made all of the effort worth our while, and we both loaded up the boat with smiles on our faces.
 
There are plenty of good fish out there and almost always, it takes the patience of a saint to fool one. Every day is different on these rivers due to the dynamic and unpredictable nature how these tailwaters operate, but the fishing still remains excellent wherever one decides to wet a line. Although most of the browns on upper Lake Taneycomo have retreated back to their primary residences, there are still a few around, and some big rainbows are starting to stage for their upcoming spawning run. There will be many great days over the next month, and like I mentioned in my last report, “now” is still a great time to fly fish the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo.

Report for 10-22-10

Slamming fish on the Norfork and a day on some different water

I guided a couple guys a few days ago on the Norfork, and I must say, that river is in as good of shape as I’ve seen it in a long time – especially with respect to the cutthroats. There are nice cutts everywhere in the middle section of the tailwater. The one downside to fishing the ‘Fork right now is that the boat ramp at the dam is closed (again) for some sort of construction, so we were not able to float the whole river. Luckily, the water stayed low all day and the trout were in a feeding mood, so everything worked out. And honestly, it’s nice to not have to mess with the boat in low water conditions all the time. The Norfork does not have a bunch of good spots to fish from a boat when it’s down, anyway, so we were going to be primarily wading, even if we had been able to put the boat in.

Report for 10-17-10

The browns are showing up below Table Rock Dam along with hoards of unscrupulous fishermen

Although mid October is generally considered a great time to wade right below Table Rock Dam on Lake Taneycomo for trophy brown trout because of the increased odds of hooking into a fish of a lifetime, the prospect of finding loads of easy-to-catch trout also brings out the worst in some fly fishermen with respect to unethical behavior. Now that the word is ‘out’ regarding the start of the annual brown run, and many big fish are beginning to stage near the hatchery outlets, such a seemingly tiny nugget of information has brought hoards of anglers out of the woodwork. A dramatic influx in fishing activity not only negatively affects the tranquility and productivity of the fishing experience, crowding and selfish behavior is also detrimental to Taneycomo’s fragile and limited spawning habitat. These are several of the reasons that the fishing below the dam has been slow over the last week or so.

Before the brown run became extremely popular in the mid 1990’s, it was not uncommon to have acres of prime water wide open, and 90%-plus of the trout found throughout the first mile of water below the dam were browns. This discrepancy was an example of how a large population of dominant trout is capable of ‘displacing’ the weaker, “egg-stealing” rainbows that congregate below the spawning beds (aka “redds”). It was common to see brown trout in the ten to fifteen-pound range caught [and often harvested], and twenty-pound fish were fairly common up until the late 1990’s. Most of the real big boys would hang out below the first three hatchery outlets, but pods of staging behemoths could pretty much be found anywhere from the Rocking Chair Hole all the way up to the dam. Over the last ten years, the dynamics of the brown trout spawn on Taneycomo has changed drastically, and even though there are still plenty of pigs just waiting to be caught, the fishing itself is not even close to how it was during the glory days of the past. The slot-limit regulations have worked ‘too’ well in many ways, as there are now so many nice rainbows below Table Rock Dam that the browns are not able to completely take over and spawn in relative peace. I consider the 1997 slot-limit a step in the right direction, but the improved rainbow trout fishing has subjected the fishery to greatly increased numbers of annual angler hours, and the year-round presence of rainbows seems to have made the browns much more nervous during the spawn. Consequently, they feed with far less frequency than what anglers became accustomed to before the “word got out”. Also, the fact that “triple digit” numbers of fishermen wetting a line right below the dam has practically become a daily (and nightly) occurrence, fishing during the brown run is just not as much fun as it used to be.

Of course, there are many “hero shots” of big, spawning browns being posted on Lake Taneycomo and White River Basin Web Sites, but many of these images are a result of unethical fishing methods and photography practices that put further strain on fish that are already stressed out from the trials and tribulations that go hand in hand with an over-publicized brown trout run. Try and pinpoint the exact area of these recently posted big trout pictures to garner an idea of the exact spot where these fish were caught. As I’ve mentioned quite a bit recently, fishing within 50 to 100-feet of the hatchery outlets number one and number two is not a sporting method of fly fishing. Rather, the fish are so stacked up in these small areas because of the increased current from the outflow coupled with the brown’s instinctual urges to make the annual return to their nursery waters. Many of us have gawked over the years at the site of so many big browns located in just s few small spots. Actually, fishing for these stacked trout is not part of a “fair chase” in the least, and repeatedly drifting nymphs through the same tiny runs quickly becomes boring. I’m not going to throw out any percentages that claim to be 100% factual, but I would bet that a high number of the obviously spawning brown trout ‘proudly’ displayed on some Web sites were indeed foul-hooked. Fish that are hooked in their fins, tails and the side of their bodies are forced to fight much harder than fish hooked in the mouth, and it does make me feel shame that so many folks think that crowding in the small areas in and below the outlets represents a sporting aspect of fly fishing in any way.

There is little that I can say or do that will stop visiting and local anglers from “shooting fish in a barrel” in the hatchery outlets on upper Lake Taneycomo besides trying to educate as many people as possible through my Web site; setting a good example as both a sportsman and as a guide is another way in which I try very hard to spread the word. You will never see my clients (or me) get caught up in the fray of beating up on these precious brown trout merely for personal glory. When I do fish the dam area during the day or at night, I mainly focus on the deepest water that I can find, and if I do venture towards the outlets, sight-fishing for cruising browns is the only way I’ll fish any area even remotely close to the outflow. There are no written rules when it comes to “how close is too close?”, but as a personal code, I look for areas where the fishermen start to thin out and are no longer wading right next to each other – then I will work well downstream from that point. But in general, I have been having much better results fishing below the boat ramp using my drift boat as a means of getting into areas that see almost no fishing pressure. This allows my customers (and I) to get into all-day action and escape the crowds at the dam.

It does disappoint me when I see other guides aggressively staking out the few outlet spots where the browns are stacked in “like cordwood”. These few areas are exponentially easier when it comes to hooking up with a decent brown than anywhere else during the runs, but teaching others how to fish the outlets is simply not the right way to create a new generation of conservation-minded and unselfish anglers. I could care less about the apparent ‘success’ and misleading posting of pictures proudly displaying all the big fish that a few guides and their customers are landing – there are always going to be ‘professionals’ who will do whatever it takes to make themselves look good while giving their clients the illusion of a benchmark achievement. What does bother me is that guiding is a privilege and not a right; so I do wish that everyone who utilizes a public resource for monetary gain would understand that they are role-models and stewards of their fisheries. It is important to always leave the river in better shape than you found it in;whether that means picking up trash or avoiding fishing for shallow-water trout that have become increasingly susceptible simply because of their reproductive instincts. Fly fishing is all about having a good time with friends, learning about conservation and new angling techniques, and catching some nice fish in the process. I can’t imagine that rubbing elbows with the masses while foul-hooking vulnerable trout in the outlets qualifies as a quality experience indicative of the wonderful aspects of our sport. For those considering hiring a guide on Lake Taneycomo , do yourself a favor and ask plenty of questions regarding where and how you plan on fishing. There are Ozark guide services well-suited for virtually every type of fly fisherman, so it is critical to let your prospective guide or outfitter know what you expect out of your time on the water.

***The Mid October newsletter will be sent out this week, and it is loaded with information on late fall and early winter fishing on the White River, the Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo. My goal is to educate anyone who is interested in learning about every aspect of these enjoyable and unique fisheries, and part of this process is reflected in my passion for sharing as much information as I can regarding seasonal changes in fishing trends, fly selection, old and new fly fishing techniques, and anything else that pertains to the ‘addictive’ Ozark fly fishing experience. Please let me know if you ever have an idea or topic that is of particular interest – it may just make the newsletter or possibly become an article on my site.

Updated Report for 10-10-10

A quick update regarding the fishing and a recent Pod Cast I was lucky enough to be a part of

This is just a short report to let everyone know that I took part in a Pod Cast with Rick Coffman, and it was quite an informative session. Check out this link for the entire discussion, and please let me know what you think. It was quite the honor to be a part of this entire process, and it shows me that I am making positive headway in the fly fishing industry. I love sharing what I know with other anglers, and it works both ways because I equally relish the knowledge I gain from talking with fly fishermen more experienced than myself. There is no room for egos in this sport because the bottom line is that learning how to have as much fun as possible on the water is the most important aspect of this pastime.

Fishing continues to be excellent and the best of fall may be yet to come. I’ve been taking my clients everywhere – Taneycomo, the White, the Norfork Tailwater and Dry Run Creek. It is amazing how many nice fish there are on every fishery. The browns have just started stacking below Table Rock Dam, so the next month on Taneycomo is going to be one for the ages. After three tough fall fishing seasons, it’s quite a blessing to see that patience pays off, as this October and November are going to be months that will be remembered for quite some time.

My guiding schedule continues to book up, so if you are at all interested in the chance of hooking into a massive trout, never hesitate to contact me with any questions you may have. I’m always here to help and my primary objectives with respect to guided trips is to have fun while educating my clients so that they can develop their own personal passion for catching fish on a fly rod.

Updated Report 10-6-2010

The browns are here!!

Within the last day or two the browns have shown up in numbers, probably the best run we’ve had in sometime. The cold front we had that moved in a few days ago along with one day of full generation is what triggered them to come up all the sudden. I would expect lots of low water for wading opportunities and night time fishing should be prime time to hook several in one day. This month should be a month you don’t get a lot of sleep, I’m not. There’s lots of browns in the 25-30 inch range between outlet one all the way down to big hole. I’ve seen several caught, but not landed and that has a lot to do with light tippet when fishing scud patterns or anything that requires nymphing techniques. Good luck out there and make sure you tie a good knot. We’ll talk more about this when I get some free time, just wanted to let everyone know so you can make plans to get down here and hook one of these big boys.

Updated Fishing Report for 10-4-10

Two nights of drift fishing on Lake Taneycomo produces excellent results

I guided a couple of great guys from Kansas City this last weekend, and we ended up primarily fishing out of the drift boat below Table Rock Dam. On the first night, we began at 9pm; starting out by wading in right below the dam. The bite up there has been tough of late, and my guess is that this is a direct result of rampant fishing pressure in that area. Those fish only get a break when the water is running hard, and we were definitely not the only ones out there on Friday night. My clients still managed to land some decent rainbows, but the overall fishing was slow and there are not a bunch of browns hanging out in the upper reaches of the tailwater…yet. After a couple of hours, we decided to get the boat in the water, but the horn at the dam went off at midnight, and since my clients were tired, we decided to call it a night.

The plan was to hit the White on Saturday, but we would have had a very late start, so all of us decided to wait until evening and fish from the boat ramp down to Fall Creek on Taneycomo. We did give the dam a try for a short bit, but like the previous night, the fishing was slow up there. Because all of the water is pretty accessible in the dam zone, it is hard to find fish that haven’t been beaten down by the recent crowds coming to fish low water. On Saturday night, I only counted six other anglers out there, but there were at least thirty folks hammering that same stretch the night before. One of my clients did catch about five rainbows in that first hour, but the other guy was seemingly jinxed. The client having all of the success was using a crazy tinsel streamer I tied up to experiment with, but of course, I only had one of these flies which that guy ended up using for the entire night.

I’ve been primarily guiding on Lake Taneycomo of late and the bite has been inconsistent. When the wind chop is right or a generator or two is running, it’s possible to hammer some decent fish, but if the river is slick, things have been a bit slower than I would like. That said, some browns are starting to show up below the dam, and there are reports floating around that detail some big fish encounters. It’s all about being at the right place at the right time during the fall transition, and the weather, scenery and good flow regimes have made for many enjoyable days on the water of late. Sure, there have been some slow periods, but considering that oxygen levels are in really good shape, there is no doubt in my mind that the best of autumn fishing is just around the corner.

My guiding schedule has been really hectic of late, and I’ve got a case of “lunker fever”, so I’m spending a lot of free time throwing flies in areas where I know some hogs are concentrated. Most of my personal fishing has been at night, and this is the time of year when ‘fishing by the lights of the dam’ can pay off in a big way. Although my guide days are starting to fill in for this month (but there are still some good spots available), my nights are wide open. Feel free to give me a call if you want to discuss night fishing in greater detail. As far as I know, I’m the only guide offering midnight float trips in Missouri and Arkansas, and believe me; the experience of drifting the rivers in the dark is unforgettable.

I’ll be out on the water for the next three days, so look for a report next week. Also, the newsletter and a new article will be coming out soon. Both of these pieces are educational and informative. It’s been a great year so far from a professional and fishing perspective, and truly, the best may be yet to come. Try and make time to visit the Ozarks this October or November for the opportunity to get in on some of the best trophy fishing we’ve seen in years. Fall is always a magical time, so don’t miss out.

First off, the Norfork is in the best shape it’s been in since the massive flood of 2008. We put in at Quarry Park (Norfork Dam), and literally saw stacks of browns from start to finish; including about a half-dozen pigs just below the ramp. Fishing for all species was ‘on’ during this particular day, and it was nice to see so many beautiful cutthroats of respectable size. The biggest cutt we ran into looked to be in the six-pound range, and it was a gorgeous specimen with cherry-red gill plates – sure wish we would have caught that beast. Still, we hooked up with scores of fat and chunky rainbows and browns (with some cutthroats and a brook trout thrown in), so I would say that the day was a success.

During the heat of the afternoon, it is imperative that everyone stays hydrated and as cool as possible. I like to stop at good wading spots to let my clients wet-wade, and doing this every now and again is really helping keep us all comfortable. Conditions on the Norfork are not nearly as conducive to hopper action right now, as the water is staying low into the early afternoon and then heavy generation (two units) starts up almost immediately. I am really looking forward to the chance to drift one-unit or less over there, but that type of water is most likely to occur in a few weeks when the weather starts to moderate. It will be a blast fishing hoppers on the ‘Fork, but for now, the fun-factor of drifting the White is as good as it gets.  

Dry fly enthusiasts should definitely take advantage of this unique fishing opportunity, and as I’ve been saying, this top-water bonanza should continue at least until the beginning of October. September is always a great period for hopper fishing when flows start to moderate. Never hesitate to give me a call for updated fishing conditions and any other type of advice. I have also posted several new articles and the August newsletter is online and has also been sent out to subscribers. The September newsletter will be a bit more substantial, but I think all the new content intriguing and interesting. With school starting up and the summer season winding down, the number of fishermen on the rivers is thinning out. In fact, during the week it seems like there are miles of open water that we have all to ourselves. That fact, along with the amazing fishing, is hard to beat anywhere.

Read what Darren is saying about the fishing this past week.

Updated report for 8-9-10

Insane hopper fishing on the White must be seen to be believed

First off, I apologize for the delay in the newsletter – things have been really busy of late, and my guiding schedule coupled with family obligations has put me a little bit behind. Rest assured, a new edition will be out soon, so keep checking the Web site or your email. The newsletter should ready in the next week, and if you are in search of more information before then, just drop me a line.

Last Thursday and Friday on the White were absolutely amazing. I guided down there for two days, and initially, I was planning on fishing one day on the White and one day on the Norfork. Well, things change, and like usual, my decision to stay on the ‘big’ river was based on the prevailing fishing. Bull Shoals is still running light to moderate flows most mornings before cranking things up in the afternoon, so it’s possible to fish really nice drifting water all day by staying ahead of the surge. For some reason, there are tons of hoppers this year and the fish are definitely looking up. On Thursday, I decided to start my drift at Wildcat Shoals, and the nymph fishing was decent first thing in the morning. As the sun gets higher in the sky, the surface action blossoms – the best hopper bite is going on from 11am until 4pm, and no one I’ve talked to can remember August terrestrial activity as frenzied as what is going on currently. Friday, I fished at Rim Shoals, and the fishing was a carbon copy of the day before – nymphs early and big hoppers the rest of the day.

Honestly, the top-water activity is rampant up and down the river, and on light flows, fish can be caught any place you cast…you know it’s good when drifting right down the middle of the river is producing strike after strike. Although we caught trout anywhere and everywhere, I would try and focus on shallow riffles, as this is where the fish were highly concentrated and extremely active. This is likely a result of the fact that the shoals offer up the most highly oxygenated water. If you like fishing BIG dry flies to really nice trout that are feeding unabashed, now is the time to hit the White, but if you can’t take off right away, don’t worry – on a normal year, the best hopper fishing is in September and early October, so it’s likely that things are going to stay the same or possibly get better (although better hopper fishing than what I witnessed last week is hard to imagine).

I did work a day over the weekend on Taneycomo, and the fishing there is still consistently good. The crowds at the dam are pretty crazy, and when the pressure gets heavy up there, the fish will often get tough to catch. This is definitely the case right now; I’ve found the best fishing to be from the boat ramp down to Point Royale, and there are some really big fish cruising the deep holes, including some double-digit browns. What a time to be a fly fisherman in the Ozarks, as we are finally getting the fishing that was inevitable when conditions stabilized. If you find yourself struggling to catch fish near the dam on Taneycomo, don’t be afraid to take a drive downstream to get away from the masses – I estimate that there were over 100 folks wading from the Cable down to the Rocking Chair Hole, but from the ramp down to Fall Creek, I only saw three other anglers. Sure, it helps to have a boat, but it’s also possible to get some space on foot – it just takes a little more effort.

Click here to read Darren's fishing report.

 SPECIAL: “Two half days for the price of one day” has been extended

Due to popular demand, I’ve decided to extend this “beat the heat” special until mid September when the weather should finally start to moderate. This deal offers up a substantial savings based on the normal price for two half days and it’s perfect for those who want to avoid fishing in the heat of the day when the flows are usually high. Drop me a line for more details.

Updated Report for 8-3-10

Water levels are consistent everywhere and the fishing has been remarkably steady

My apologies for the lapse in providing a detailed report - I have been out on Taneycomo almost every day for the past few weeks. Water levels have been virtually the same for pretty much the last month with low water at night and during the mornings, followed by high water in the afternoon. Because temperatures are always really hot in August, I have been offering my clients the option of doing half-day, low water trips on Taneycomo, and this scenario allows people to avoid fishing during the extreme heat of the day. It’s been two years since we’ve had steady low water periods during the summer, and as this trend continues, the fish we encounter are getting nicer and nicer.

My strategy for fishing the middle and lower end of the trophy area has been to work deep water first thing in the morning. This gives my clients a chance at hooking something really big before these behemoths stop feeding. Around mid-morning (10am), the best action shifts to shallow water, and midge patterns along with other standard nymphs are producing nice trout until the water comes up around noon. Most of the trips I’ve run over the last two weeks have been a blast, and five hours on the water is more than enough time to catch a bunch of hard-fighting rainbows, with the occasional brown thrown in for variety. We have been primarily fishing out of the boat in order to cover as much water as possible, but when it starts getting really hot, we will often wade, which gives everyone a chance to cool down.

** For anyone interested in a guided trip experience on Taneycomo this August, I am offering a “flexibility package” for anglers wishing to just fish during the cooler morning periods. Just for this month, it will only cost $350 for two half-day trips – this is a savings of $200, and it allows for time to do other activities (and stay cool) during the heat of the day. Please feel free to give me a call for more details on this opportunity.

June 16th 2010
Still having  low water at Taneycomo in the morning

It’s been hot, but fishing has been great on Taneycomo. I wasn’t able to make it over to the White River this past weekend. I decided to talk my client’s into fishing Taneycomo since this was a guaranteed for low water most of the day. I’m sure they were glad they did. Catching anywhere between 50-100 fishing before cranking on the generators is real common these days. And with most these rainbows averaging 16-18 inches, I’m getting more excited about what’s in store for this fishery. I’m hoping to see a big brown run this year and I’m pretty certain we will have one. I bet these browns are going to big in numbers and in size since they haven’t had much pressure in a couple of years. Even the browns at the White are a lot bigger in size on an average due to their heavy generation schedules in the previous years. All I can say is these rivers are ready to be fished so get down here ASAP.

I spent the day fishing Taney yesterday and was able to hook another decent brown in the lower sections. This makes two nice browns caught this past week. I haven’t heard of too many browns being caught in the18-20 inch range, but there are some being caught in the 12-15 inch range up top. To be real honest, I’m seeing a lot of the bigger ones down below about two miles downstream.

When I was fishing the falling water around 6pm I noticed a lot of dry fly activity, or should I say fish taking stuff of the surface with aggression. They weren’t really feeding on nymphs or anything on the bottom in this water, but dry fly fishing was hot. We managed to hook several on dries. This might be the pattern for Taney right now so don’t get frustrated if the bite is slow during the drop. Go to dries and see what happens. The bites already slow so you don’t have much to lose with experimenting with Chernobyl type patterns. There’s a lot of big rainbows to be caught and they do like big dries if you fish them right.

I should have a followed up “live” report sometime this week that will explain more in depth about dry fly fishing. It should be turning on for a couple of months, same with the White River. Hopper season is right around the corner, but we need lower water to be able to get their attention.

What’s NEW or the site

Like I said in the reports, I’m creating a new page called 3D reports. It’s built, but were still in the process of getting it complete. Also, the how-to-step fly that was recently uploading called the Peanut Envy will have the instructions completed real soon. You can go the Circus Peanut steps to get a basic idea because both are tied pretty much the same way. Other then that, I’m just to busy right now to do anything else. The one thing that always bothers me though is to do more with up loading new patterns for you guy’s to tie. Hopefully this fall I’ll be able to focus more attention on the tying pages. I haven’t forgot about you tyers, stay posted. My goal is to have another 100 or so by the end of this year.

Darren has also added a follow up report about the brown he caught last week.

Updated Report for 6-3-10
Unexpected hey-days as Table Rock Shuts Down

As a tribute to just how unpredictable the Corp of Engineers can be, the last few days have seen no generation at Table Rock Dam until 2pm. What surprised me is that Beaver Lake is pretty high, and all that water will have to make it through Table Rock Dam at some point, but Darren and I were too busy catching fish to ask questions as to the ‘why’ of this situation, so be sure to check out the videos of the experience on both my site and Darren’s. I would tell everyone to get down here NOW, but if I did that, the conditions would surely change.

We landed over 200 fish over the two days – it was pretty much a bite on every cast on standard midges during low water. While that whole deal was a blast, when the water did come up, we were treated to a dry-fly extravaganza on size #2 “Behemoth” patterns imitating the many wasps we see this time of year. The far bank opposite the hatchery was on fire with big rainbows [fish over 20-inches were common] aggressively smashing these oversized dries. I wish I could say how long this respite from continual water will last…I’m afraid it could be one of those “should have been here yesterday situations”, but I sure hope not.

Since Darren and I are on the water so much, we’ve decided to also utilize “live” reports that we record on the river. Please let us know what you think of this format compared to strictly written reports – hopefully a combination of both will enhance the whole Internet experience. I haven’t forgotten about the newsletter, and subscribers should look for the newest edition within 24 hours. We have an amazing special this month that combines fishing two rivers and FREEE GUIDE flies – be sure to check this out, as this offer is good for subscribers and non-subscribers alike.

Updated Report for 5-18-10

Spring rains finally hit the Table Rock watershed

It seemed like we dodged one bullet after another when it came to the heavy rains that peppered the Midwest through April and into May, but our luck finally ran out a few days ago. Several strong storms brought a large influx of water in Beaver and Table Rock Lakes, and as of this writing, Taneycomo is back to running at full power. As long as more rains do not hammer the area in the near future, it looks like there could be two or three weeks of high flows out of Table Rock Dam. The low water fishing had been awesome, but now it’s time to switch gears for awhile. For me, that means pounding the banks with big streamers for trophy fish.

Bull Shoals and Norfork Lakes are also both high, but flows have been low to moderate on the rivers, as the Corp is still holding back water in an effort to help farmers far downstream protect and harvest their crops. For any chance at low water in the near future, the White and Norfork are the way to go, but it’s only a matter of time before those dams start cranking, as well. Interestingly, many White River and Norfork bait guides lament that “real” sculpins stop working in May due to overexposure. Ironically, using a lively and well-presented sculpin pattern can produce the desired results. Yes, there really are times on these rivers when flies will out-fish natural and live bait; it’s all about the presentation.

I have added a new fly pattern to the site: Kelly Galloup’s “Peanut Envy” – this streamer is garnering a lot of attention in the fly fishing world, and for good reason.  We also just posted the second installment of our “White River History” series – this type of unique information can only be found on Taneycomotrout.com, and I really do hope that everyone is enjoying taking a deeper look into the fisheries we love. There will be at least three more articles related to this series, and feel free to let us know if there is something you would like to see covered.

My weekends are still somewhat busy with guiding, and I spend any free time I get during the week either tying flies or working on the Web site. If you have wanted to try some big-water streamer fishing, the next three weeks will offer up plenty of varied opportunities. Anglers in the Ozarks have already caught an unprecedented number of big fish this spring, and that trend will continue when we start seeing consistently high flows. The low water was a nice respite from battling high releases for months on end, but I’m excited about the amazing streamer fishing that is just about to explode.

Updated Report for 5-10-10

Taneycomo is a model of steadiness and consistency: How long will this trend last?

For the last three days, I have been guiding on Lake Taneycomo. It’s hard to believe, but water conditions, fish activity and the weather were virtually identical on each trip. Considering how these rivers like to make liars out of guides, I will refrain from speculating about how long these steady conditions will continue, but I am hopeful that the month of May will truly be one to remember because of incredible action and manageable fishing flows.

The water was ‘off’ the last three mornings, and it would not start coming up until early afternoon. Midges were the ticket during low water – we worked deep holes with black or brown Zebra-Midges under a small strike-indicator. Change your depth according to how the fish are behaving - if you see quite a few trout feeding near the surface, it’s time to set very shallow. The action was pretty much non-stop on chunky rainbows the last three mornings.

When the horn would sound, I would row as hard as I could to get up to the dam, and that is where we would start. Flows have rarely been above the 1.5-unit level, and this is excellent water to slowly work down river using “light” nymph techniques. San Juan Worm and Miracle Flies are the ticket during the rise, and once the water stabilizes, pretty much anything and everything subsurface is producing fish. We spent the entire afternoon working our way from the dam to the boat ramp – there was never any reason to go further downstream.

If I were going to complain about anything over the last three days, it would be that the wind was a little strong in the afternoons, but the consistent fishing more than made up for having to work around a little bit of breeze. If you haven’t fished light water with the use of a drift boat on Taneycomo, you should definitely check it out. This is a very relaxing way to access areas that can’t be reached by foot, and there is something to be said about drifting in silence with no background motor noise. Almost everyone I guided over the last three days was a beginner, and there really are no better conditions for new anglers to learn and EXCEL on. There should be plenty of chances to drift upper Taneycomo over the next month, so drop me a line if you have any specific questions or are interested in a trip.

With my work schedule being heaviest on the weekends, I am going to take advantage of some ‘down time’ this week by adding quite a bit to the fly tying section on the Web site – look for several new “how-to” steps and videos very soon. I have also added quite a bit of new content to the articles page, so if you haven’t been to this section in awhile, there is probably quite a bit for you to catch up on.

Although there has not been as much dead-low water on the White and Norfork of late, flows have been generally light, and the fishing has been great. Prolonged rain events are not that common this time of year, but it is possible to get excessive precipitation during intense thunderstorms, and one major event could put the lakes back into flood stage at the drop of a hat. Hopefully, most of this year’s major flooding is over, and it would be nice if reservoir levels would stay steady from now until the middle of June. I’m not expecting that to happen, though, but we can all dream, right?

Check out the video on how to tie soft hackles for our tailwaters.

Updated Report for 4-26-10

High-water cycle may be waning, fishing remains good

I have been very busy lately completing fly orders – dedicated guides have to do what it takes when the guiding business slows down. Even though April offers some of the years best weather and fishing, for whatever reason, the guide business almost always slacks off. May is looking quite a bit busier, and with any luck, there could be some low water in the next week.

The Norfork and White are running water most days, but rarely is it at full-power. Float fishing has been excellent. Taneycomo has been running in the one to two-unit ranges, so both boats and waders are getting in on the action. If the area stays relatively dry, low water will become more predominant. The best dry fly action in Arkansas is usually in May and June, so there is still a chance of experiencing the incredible dry fly fishing that happens during low water periods this time of year.

If you are interested in any fly selections, please let me know, as my guiding schedule will be taking up most of my time in the near future.  Look for more reports from the rivers this week, and I have heard of some great fishing taking place virtually everywhere. We will be putting a newsletter out in the next week, so keep an eye out for that. Everyone’s support is greatly appreciated, and I hope to see you all out on the water very soon.

On Monday the 12th, I took out Scott Moss out for a day below Bull Shoals Dam. At the time, the Corp was running about four-units worth of water through the sluice gates below the dam and four generators were also running. This created quite a wave of water which made the left side of the river unfishable, and the bite was pretty slow. Shad patterns were the ticket, and these flies are always worth trying when the rivers are running high. The big complaint on the White right now is that the river gets very trashy once you get a few miles down from the dam around Cane Island, so it pays to stay close to the dam. We did manage to catch some decent fish, including the chunk in the picture, and it was pretty cool to fish with the sluice gates open - that is pretty much a once-in-a-lifetime type of deal. The sluice gates have now been closed for a few days, and the White is running at about half power, which makes for great floating. Reports are that fishing has been good, if you can find clear water.

Updated Report from 4-11-10

Confronting the challenge of fishing the current conditions below Bull Shoals Dam

I took a family of three out on the water yesterday, and the significance of this event was that it was my first high-water guide trip with three anglers in the boat. My new Supreme is wonderful to fish out of, and I am putting the 5-feet of extra room to good use. Although fly fishing out of the boat with three people takes increased awareness and the willingness to share the space, these types of trips allow more friends and family to fish together. Plus, splitting the cost of a guide trip amongst an extra person will save some money. It is great to be able to offer the three-angler option to my clients.

David, Jeremy, and “Pops” we beginners eager to delve right into the sport of fly fishing. Before the trip, Phil, of Lilley’s Landing Resort helped me arrange the purchase of some good, beginner setups for my client’s upcoming experience. They were able to familiarize themselves with their equipment before going out on the water, which always helps. Waders were purchased on the way down to the area at Bass Pro Shops in Springfield, Missouri. Both the TFO fly rod and reel outfits and the Simms waders they bought worked flawlessly.

I decided on Bull Shoals Dam because the water is quite high on all of the tailwaters I frequent. Since yesterday was a Saturday, I felt that the number of other fishermen on the Norfork stretch could be overwhelming for my neophytes, and if nothing else, the Bull Shoals Dam area allows for plenty of room to spread out.  The water was running at the six-unit level, so it was rocking and rolling. We found some slower water and went to work there – the results were immediate. Every so often we would adjust our positioning, but for the most part, the action was so steady that we did not have to stray far from our original starting point…until our success started getting the attention of other anglers. Some folks just have to try and muscle in on you when everyone is having fun, so I let some other people move in, thinking that we could scrape up a few bites out in the main channel.

Drifting the big flows proved fruitless, which gave me a little bit of insight into why my previous spot looked so good to the other fishermen on the river. After awhile, we once again found some open slack water and went back to work. The total number of chunky rainbows landed was pretty gaudy, and my clients had a blast. It’s nice when everything works out. The upper White is fishing well on some pretty heavy water right now, and the crowds are thinning out from the spring rush. The typical high-water flies like San Juan Worms and Miracle Flies are doing the trick. I wish I had some pictures to show off, but I left my camera at home. This happens to everyone, and not having a camera is a great way to ensure a remarkable day on the water.

High water is going to be prevalent for at least another week, but Table Rock Lake is only a foot above pool, and flows have been cut back significantly of late. Beaver Lake is holding excess water, so dead-low water may not occur on Taneycomo until that reservoir is drawn down to pool, but you never know. Norfork continues to run at just over the one-unit level, and this river is fishing well for numbers. The water is clear compared to the White, but crowding has been an issue on the ‘Fork. On the White, the water gets pretty trashy just a few miles below Bull Shoals Dam, so keep that in mind if you plan on trying to drift some of the areas further downstream. This junky water should improve with each passing day. I will be guiding on the Norfork tomorrow, and I will let everyone know how it goes – hopefully we’ll have the place to ourselves on a Monday. Also, if you haven’t checked out the blog recently, be sure to give it a read. We have updated the theme and there is lots of new content available. Please let me know what you think of the changes and enhancements.

Streamer fishing on the White and a day on Dry Run Creek

High water is back in full-swing in the Ozarks, but releases are not at maximum levels on any of the tailwaters - as of yet, anyway. Norfork Dam has been operating the equivalent of one-full-unit around the clock, and the White is running steadily in the four to five-unit range. The Corp is aggressively dumping water out of Table Rock Lake, so Taneycomo is running the highest of the three rivers, but at least the reservoir levels have remained manageable – right now, Table Rock Lake is about three feet above power pool.

On Monday, I had something happen to me that will never happen again: I had to give up a three-person guide trip because my river boat is too short to accommodate that many anglers. This Thursday I will be purchasing a sweet, 20-foot Supreme, so three-person trips will now be a possibility during all water conditions. I didn’t want the day to be a total waste, so I took Summer’s brother down to Arkansas to do some streamer fishing with my friend John Holsten. It was supposed to be a great day for the weather, and we found the river empty when we got to the Wildcat Shoals boat ramp. This was going to be a perfect outing whether the fish cooperated or not.

Times are busy right now, but I’m not complaining, especially since the fishing is so good on all of the rivers. Be sure to check out the blog when you get the chance. My good friend Gabe Cross will be contributing on an almost daily basis. It should make for some interesting reading about both Arkansas and Idaho. I will definitely post some pictures of my new boat once it is set up. Also, if anyone is interested, I am selling my 16-foot Supreme with the trailer. Call me for the specifics.

Updated Report for 3-25-10

Low water hopes once again dashed by heavy rain

For months, everyone involved in the White River Basin trout fisheries has been closely following the reservoir levels and water release schedules. Heavy fall rains, which are somewhat unusual for this area, pushed lakes up to extremely high levels by early December. The drawdown has taken over three months to complete, and that was without any heavy rainfall hitting the area. Last weekend, everything came together down in Arkansas, as the White River and Norfork Tailwater were dead-low for days on end. It was a great time to be on the water; the fish were eager, the weather was decent (until Saturday) and it was so refreshing to fish low flows again.

When you live by the sword, you die by the sword, and it was only a matter of time until some decent rains found our watershed. There have been several moderate to heavy rain (and snow!) events since last weekend, and the lakes are rising accordingly. As of this writing, Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock Lakes are all about a couple of feet above power pool, but more rain pounded the region today, so it looks like the low water will be over for a bit.

The Corp of Engineers reacted swiftly to the recent deluge by releasing heavy water right away from Table Rock and Bull Shoals power plants. Norfork is running around the clock at the one-unit level – these flows are perfect for drifting over there, so get in on this dynamic while it is available because they could start cranking at any time. Hopefully, heavy precipitation events will be few and far between over the next couple of months. At this point in time, it will only take one serious storm to get the lakes really rising. If the area remains dry over the next few weeks, lower water could be a possibility once they run this current floodwater through the system – I will have a tentative timeframe on this after all of the reservoirs crest.

It is really starting to feel like this wet cycle may never end, but I must keep reminding myself that high water is much better for these fisheries than low water is. April is just around the corner, and this month is one of my absolute favorites for fishing all water conditions on our rivers. The winds of March fade into gentle breezes as April settles in, and the big fish – browns especially - just seem to get active. San Juan Worms in pink, red and brown variations will produce some very good trout when the water is up. Even though talk of the shad kill has pretty much died of late, I would not hesitate to throw a white streamer up by Bull Shoals Dam on the heavy water they are releasing. Shad may still be coming through, but I have not heard of any reports to confirm this.

My schedule is very busy right now – tomorrow I start six days of guiding in a row. Look for April’s newsletter in about a week, and it is going to be a good one. If any of you guys are flexible with your fishing plans, look at water releases over the next few days. If runoff into the White River starts to get heavy, look for a very small low-water window on the White and/or Norfork. With today’s heavy rains and subsequent flood warnings, I would not be surprised to see flood control operations take over. The Corp does not want to add to flooding issues by releasing heavy water into already swollen waterways.

Updated Report for 3-20-10

Low water and hot fishing combine to make for a memorable Sow Bug Roundup Weekend

It seems like I am never fully prepared to make that transition in my life from the slow pace of winter to the hectic business of spring – all off a sudden I will be consumed by work after months of very little activity. It feels great to be spending a lot of time on the water recently, and there is nothing better than having a somewhat full guiding schedule ahead when the fishing is this good.

I found myself in Arkansas the last two days taking part in the annual Sow Bug Roundup in Mountain Home. This event is basically a regional ‘convention’ with many speakers, guides, fly tiers, retailers and wholesalers showing off their wares. I always meet such great people, and it is always nice to reconnect with longstanding acquaintances. The water was low for the entire day on both the White and Norfork both yesterday and today – Bull Shoals surged the water for an hour Friday morning and since then, the generators have been off. This is the first time in quite awhile that low water and the Sow Bug Roundup have come together on the same weekend, and almost everyone was reported very productive fishing.

Updated Report for 3-17-10

Low and high water: The difference between night and day

I spent the last two days out on the water guiding, and this recent experience clearly displayed how much of a difference water conditions can make. On Monday, we waded some low water at Lake Taneycomo and literally wore the fish out. Fly selection seemed to matter little, and the steady wind kept a nice bit of chop on the surface. Obviously, the trout on Taneycomo are really pigging out when the water gets low. Today, I found out what these fish are doing when the water is running.

The Corp of Engineers threw me a curveball, as the water came up unexpectedly on Taneycomo around 10am. Conditions were blustery, and it was a struggle to control the boat with so much wind. It is so frustrating to know that fishing could be great if the water would just drop a few more feet, but instead, we were forced to fight the wind and do the best that we could. I had one angler in my boat, and we worked very hard, as a team, for every fish that was landed. What a difference a day can make on these rivers.

What I find interesting is that just because the trout currently are turning on when the water gets shut down, it is totally possible that their behavior will change drastically at any time. White River Basin trout are often stimulated by changes in water conditions. After several weeks of primarily lower water, the fish will start to turn on every time the river rises. Because fishing these rivers is such a game, I never have issues with losing interest or burning out. Rather, I get more intrigued each day I spend on the water and I am passionate about figuring out these fisheries as deeply as I possibly can.

The Sow Bug Roundup is in Mountain Home this weekend. If you are in the area Saturday morning at 9am, be sure to stop by for my streamer fishing presentation. This event is always a lot of fun, and maybe the water will cooperate this year and some people will get to wade. I also wanted to mention that we are starting to generate some interest in our Owyhee River trips to Boise, and we are just now getting to work on all of the details. If you are interested in this unique angling opportunity, please drop me a line, and it looks like the first of these trips will be in mid June. I will also be posting an article about the Owyhee on my blog, and you have to check out the video of my friend catching one nice brown after another from the same wading spot. It will be such a blast to spend some real time on the Owyhee, and I think it will be good to fish other waters for the sake of experience.

The weather is getting nice – some days, anyway – and the fish are currently adjusting to so many changes going on around them. Once the flow patterns stabilize, the action will get more consistent, but for now, it is all about recognizing and finding the best water conditions on any given day.

Updated report from 3-15-10

Fishing cools off in Arkansas, while the action is just now heating up on Lake Taneycomo

 A couple of days ago (Saturday) I took Darren and his father Dennis out for a guide trip. We decided to start out below Bull Shoals Dam, but I had a feeling that the White may be slowing down after so many weeks of great fishing. Experienced guides have struggled to produce fish on very good water conditions over the last week. Why would this happen? Well, fishing cannot be incredible every day of the year, especially when you consider all of the flow changes on our rivers along with constant angler and boat pressure. This tough bite will not last forever, and more than likely, the action will get back to normal this week. There is a good chance that there will be some low water on the White very soon, as Bull Shoals Lake is now six-inches below power pool and the lake level is dropping a little bit each day.

The action was pretty slow for us below the dam, but we did manage to catch a few here and there. It is amazing how spoiled we get when the bite is on. I mean, we probably landed somewhere in the ballpark of 20 fish in three hours, but the brutal wind made everything tougher – especially running the boat. There was only one other boat on the water, and I can see why – the trout have not been active in several days according to reports, so most anglers are fishing downstream of the dam or heading over to the Norfork. After some discussion, the three of us decided to head back to Branson and see what was happening on Lake Taneycomo. This ended up being one of those lucky situations where the water conditions played out in our favor.

The water was off when we got to Taneycomo, and the guys immediately got to work catching one nice trout after another. Instead of fighting the wind in the boat, we were able to use the chop to our advantage, and beaded midge pupa patterns were the ticket. If you have not read the TaneycomoTrout.com article about using the wind to your favor, check it out here as this is critical information. There have been plenty of days in the past where I would have been more than happy with the twenty fish we landed on the upper White, but we lucked out and were able to turn a good trip into an epic outing.

This day on the water with Darren and Dennis reaffirmed just how much it pays to be versatile when fishing the White River Basin trout fisheries. Many area guides only fish water they are comfortable with, which is fine, but it never hurts to have as many options as possible at one’s disposal. Right now, the fishing is tough on both the White and Norfork. By having Lake Taneycomo as an option, I am able to get in on hot fishing that most of the folks in Arkansas do not even know is happening. I do spend more on gasoline and logistical expenses but covering a large area, but it is all worth it when my clients have the fly fishing experience of their lives.

March 7, 2010

Family time on a jam-packed Lake Taneycomo

After going to church with both kids and my girl’s family, I decided to take Summer and her brother Corey out for an afternoon on Lake Taneycomo. Temperatures were near 70-degrees, but it was extremely windy – more on that later. It is such a treat to be able to fish with loved ones, so I was committed to making this day a great experience for all of us.

The nice weather coupled with the start of spring break has drawn people to the water in swarms, and the boat traffic was definitely worse than normal. Anglers should prepare for crowded conditions for the remainder of the month. It did not take long for Corey to hook and land a very healthy 17-inch rainbow once we got the river boat on the water. He was so happy with this catch, as this was only his third time fly fishing.

After the hot start, it became quite a struggle to battle the wind and to find open space. As a guide, I must be ready to adapt to any sort of conditions, including wind and crowds, so we pulled into the slack water below Point Royal and let the wind help us slowly drift downstream. All three of us caught some chunky rainbows on midges, and the outing was saved. Everyone had a great time, and I cannot wait until I can get out on the water with close family again.

Low water could be a real possibility over the next week, as the entire region continues to be unusually dry. Pretty much every drop of excess water in system lakes is gone, and anglers in Arkansas are enjoying low water every afternoon on the Norfork. The White is still running for most of the day like on Lake Taneycomo, but this pattern will likely change very soon. Let’s hope any rains hold off long enough for everyone to enjoy some wading.

As I touched on above, be sure to expect more people and boats on the water than usual in March. Upper Taneycomo can be a particularly dangerous stretch because half of the craft on the water are oversized bass and lake boats. The wake from these vessels will knock down waders and swamp the appropriately-sized river boats on the water. Lake Taneycomo’s banks also take a real beating from the constant traffic, and it will not be long before erosion will adversely affect fishing productivity. I would love to see 25-horsepower restrictions put in place on the section from Fall Creek to Table Rock Dam. Those of us who want to fish safely should have a place to do that, and I feel that operating a boat that is disproportionately large on a narrow waterway violates the state’s prudent boat operating statutes. The benefit of restricting motors far outweighs the negatives.

The weather is looking nice for this upcoming week and the water is running much lower than it has been – plus, the fishing continues to be excellent. Please keep in mind that I definitely consider how crowded a spot is likely to be before guiding my clients in that area. When at all possible, I opt for places where we can spread out and enjoy nature. Only rarely is it impossible to find plenty of open water, but it can take a little more effort to escape the masses during spring and summer weekends.

March 6, 2010

Every silver lining has a cloud

I just wanted to post a brief report on the trip I did the other day. A really nice gentleman and I decided to fish Lake Taneycomo after much deliberation. Flows have been much lower at both Bull Shoals and Table Rock Dams, so it was a tough decision picking a spot. All in all, I think I made the right choice by staying close to home.

The water ran steady at the one-unit level all day – this may be the rarest of all flows to see with much regularity on Lake Taneycomo. Fishing is almost always good on one unit and yesterday was no exception. There was just one annoying issue that prevented us from having a hey-day: an over-abundance of federally stocked rainbow trout from the hatchery in Neosho, Missouri. We could not keep these little squirts off of our line, and I am convinced that these fresh trout will grab the fly before the larger fish get the chance to. Still, we did manage to land a few good ones here and there, and most of these larger fish were very dark purple in color. I love it when they take on this shade; I think it may be indicative of a fish that is either pre or post-spawn. Those that fish Taneycomo a lot know how cool these purple rainbows look in person.

All in all, we landed around forty fish, which I think is very good for someone new to the sport. Sure, the majority of what was landed was dinky, but he still had to do everything right to get the hook-up. The only guaranteed way to keep these stockers off of your line is to throw a fly bigger than they are, and I was close to trying that at points throughout the day. We ended the outing right by landing a thick and hard-fighting rainbow in the 17-inch range.

It does frustrate me that they stock so many tiny fish on upper Taneycomo throughout the year. Basically, no one wants these fish, so they have to go somewhere. But seriously, the trophy area on upper Lake Taneycomo never needs stocking, and if it does, why not use the trout with strong genetic traits from Shepherd of the Hills hatchery below Table Rock Dam? I’m sure this whole deal can be traced back to the times when the federal government was instituting stocking programs to mitigate the loss of warm water habitat below the dams. These swarms of stockers not only diminish the fishing experience on upper Lake Taneycomo, they also stress the habitat to its breaking point.

I did just hear that my dad was just checked by the game wardens while fishing today. It is good to finally see the enforcement officers below the dam on Lake Taneycomo again. They used to check fishermen for violations all the time, but the effort has slacked off in recent years. Poachers beware: the officers said that they will be patrolling the dam area far more frequently this year.

Look for lower flows on all the rivers this upcoming week, and dead low water is a strong possibility on the White and Lake Taneycomo. It hasn’t really happened lately, but the lakes are all below power pool, so I am expecting serious changes in generation patterns. Check out the Flies for Sale page – I have a new dry fly box offering a selection of patterns that can bring the big boys to the surface.

Fishing is great right now. Let me help you plan the perfect Ozark fly fishing getaway.

March 3, 2010

Is the high water finally winding down?

I haven’t been out on the water since my last report, but I do have a little bit of news to pass on. First of all, I am postponing my expedition trip down the White River. Fly orders have been coming in pretty quickly, and I do want to thank everyone who is keeping me busy. I also have the chance to fish with Summer on Saturday, and sine I rarely get to spend a whole day on the water with my girl, I had to take advantage of this opportunity. The White will always be there to explore, so waiting a week or two is no big deal. By then, temperatures may be warmer and who knows what the water levels will be.

Bull Shoals and Table Rock Dams continue to run at the 50% of capacity level, but Bull did shut down for four hours last night [first shut down in months], so changes are slowly occurring. Over the years I have noticed that during the month of March, it always seems like one or two units will run around the clock at one of the dams. In 2000, the Corp ran water on the Norfork all day long, even though the lake was five feet below pool. Usually, this load will be taken care of by Bull Shoals, and I’ve never seen a “predetermined” release at Beaver during this month. I know that after saying this,something weird will occur, but I do want people to understand why the water may be running water some days during March, even when the lakes are at or below pool. There are so many different scenarios that dictate how the Corp and Southwestern Power manage power production. I will be touching on this subject in an upcoming article.

The Norfork has been off most days from 10 or 11am through 6pm, so there is a definite window of opportunity to get out and wade over there. We may start seeing a similar pattern emerge on the White and Table Rock over the next week if the weather stays dry. With respect to the Norfork, remember that the water takes four hours to drop out completely at the Ackerman Access, but the area is shallow enough to wade within an hour and a half of the dam shutting down. This section is always popular, but you can get a little solitude by heading upstream while the water is still falling. Always be aware of the water coming back up – an increase in flow is difficult to recognize during the drop period.

In an effort to diversify and increase my Web site’s exposure, I will be posting partial articles on my blog up to five times a week. Some of these pieces will be similar to what I usually post, but others will be lighter or delve into the details of a very specific subject. The full versions of these articles can be found on the articles page. 

I will keep everyone updated, and never hesitate to call or email me if you have any questions or just want to chat. Fishing will continue to get better through March, but keep in mind that our waters are more congested than normal this time of year. Try and be patient if someone accidently gets too close, and everyone’s experience on the water is better when boaters and waders get along. It can be hard sometimes – believe me, I know. Finding a little space away from the crowds will not only lead to productive fishing, it also helps maintain sanity. Low water is a novelty right now, so everyone wants to see what all the commotion is about. The “new” will wear off in a few weeks, but still, March is a month where a lot of families head to the Ozarks for spring break. The prospect of good fishing will bring people to the trout fisheries in this region, but I rarely notice the masses when the bite is hot.

***Don’t forget to check out my streamer presentation at the Sow Bug Roundup in Mountain Home on the 18^th, 19^th and 20^th of this month. Let me know if you need more information. This event is like a fly fishing convention, and it is definitely worth the time. There will be plenty of great tiers to meet and lots of cool gear to try, so be sure to come to the Sow Bug Roundup if you get the chance.

 February 28 2010

Banging fish in Arkansas

I just got done with two days of guiding – it was only supposed to be one day, but the fishing was so good, the guys jumped at the chance to do everything a second time. We fished the White and the Norfork, and both places are still in very good shape with respect to numbers of fish, even though we did not land any lunkers.

We started out up by Bull Shoals Dam on the first day of this excursion. The water was running at about the five-unit level and the river was not nearly as crowded as it had been. Shad patterns worked pretty well, especially considering how there was no shad or bird activity whatsoever. We also caught fish on Miracle Flies and San Juan Worms. It was a very productive morning, but the action slowed down around noon. Since the water was not dropping as predicted, we decided to go wade the Norfork for the afternoon since the water had been shut off.

Because low water has been so infrequent over the last few years, it seemed like every fisherman within 500 miles was out on the river. I was surprised to find fishing pretty slow right off the bat. Trout were feeding on midges everywhere, but my favorite midge imitations were pretty much ignored. After trying Miracle Flies with limited luck, I got a little ‘tip’ and switched to micro red San Juan Worms. After that, it was on – we smoked fish the rest of the day and everyone, including myself, had a blast.

Norfork has been shutting off mid-morning, so we got a late start on the second day in order to be on the water right around the time that levels are dropping out. The river was even more crowded than the day before, but we had my drift boat - using a float strategy to escape the crowds was on the agenda. Amazingly, there were people pretty much up and down the entire river, but we found some good spots and caught a bunch of fish. I hate seeing our resources so congested, but things will thin out as low water becomes more common. The Norfork has changed so much due to the unprecedented flooding and high water of the last few years, and I found myself having to drag my drift boat in quite a few spots. I did not see a bunch of big fish, but they like to show up and leave with regularity on this stretch.

This upcoming week I am planning an expedition float trip on the White. A friend and I are going to start at Bull Shoals Dam and fish for three days out of the drift boat. We are not sure where we will end up. My intention is to experiment with some new streamer tackle. I really feel that I am on the cusp of figuring out how to consistently hook into really big fish. Upon my return, I will report on the experience.

The March newsletter is about to be sent out, so if you are not on the subscriber list, be sure to sign up – there are spots to do this on a few pages of the Web site (home page being the easiest). There is quite a bit of exclusive content  in this issue and there is also a deal on a selection of Miracle Flies. My guide schedule is getting a bit busier, but there are plenty of good days available, so please let me know if you are interested in getting out on the water for a day or two. Right now is a great time to be fly fishing in the Ozarks.

On Sunday, I decided to fish for fun close to home on Lake Taneycomo because the weather was looking ‘iffy’. We got on the water early, and there were four heavy units cranking. The action was very slow, so we decided to get out of the rain and take a fly tying break. In the afternoon, the water had lowered to the two-unit level, and the bite was definitely much better after the flows slowed down. I decided to play around with some streamers, and I even threw a few tandem-rigs with a Zoo-Cougar and Circus Peanut. The action was surprisingly good, which leads me to believe that streamers will work well during certain flow conditions on Lake Taneycomo. Since there is so little structure available over the first couple miles of river below Table Rock Dam, there are very few ‘classic’ spots to throw a streamer, so the fish really need the right water to get into a chasing mood. I did even manage to land a respectable brown with this technique, and that definitely opened my eyes to more possibilities. It will be fun to play around with streamers when one or two units are running on Lake Taneycomo.

The next week should be characterized by wild water fluctuations, as this is generally what happens as the lakes approach power pool levels. I hate to make bold predictions, but I think that there will be some low water this upcoming weekend if the reservoirs continue to drop. When the lakes stabilize at or just below power pool, the best chances for low water below Bull Shoals and Table Rock Dams will be on the weekends, but there will be scattered low-water days during the week, as well – especially once the weather gets mild. Norfork will offer up more wading opportunities than the White and Taneycomo. I am giddy thinking about how the upcoming fishing is going to be on the Norfork.

Check out my blog to read my latest article about how the fish fight differently on each stretch of water. Every now and again, I like to cover interesting topics that do not relate to techniques, so I hope that everyone will enjoy this. Always feel free to let me know if there is an article that you would like to see. My guiding schedule is really starting to pick up, but there are still quite a few open dates in March. This is the month that really kicks off the Ozark trout fishing season, and there are always scores of big fish caught in March. Weather can range from hot to frigid, so anglers must come prepared for any weather conditions. I can remember when Arkansas received 16-inches of snow in early March, and this was immediately followed by two weeks of temperatures near 80-degrees. The weather and trout fishing in the Ozarks is never boring.

Updated Report from 2-7-10

Since getting out there on the first of February up by Bull Shoals Dam, I have not since found time to go fishing. This is because I have been busy paying the bills by tying flies, and as you have hopefully noticed; I have been spending a lot of time working on my Web site. The bite continues to be excellent on the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo, but the heavy snow of last week has caused the lakes to stop dropping as quickly as they were. It is so frustrating when little bursts of precipitation keep pounding the area right when the lakes are about to get to normal levels. Every reservoir in the White River System is around one foot above power pool. Generation has been nearly constant for the last week, but most of the water levels reflect light to moderate flows – this makes for excellent drifting conditions. San Juan Worms and egg patterns are winter fly staples. There has been little word on the shad kill lately, but I am thinking that the predicted upcoming cold weather should cause the year’s first significant numbers of shad to show up on the water. The heaviest shad kills will usually occur on the White, but the Norfork and Lake Taneycomo will almost always have a corresponding event.

At this point, pretty much everyone is crossing their fingers in hope if seeing some low water soon, but this frustrating pattern of heavy rains coming in just as the lakes get to power pool levels has been going on for almost three years. I guess this is “payback” from all the low water of the late 1990’s and early 2000’s. The near-constant high water has helped the fisheries flourish, and the numbers of big fish being caught is simply staggering, but it would sure be nice to have some lower flow conditions so that everyone can get in on the fun. I feel like a broken record saying this, but here it goes: if the rains hold off, there could be low water by next weekend, as the lakes are starting to slowly drop again. Of course, there is rain and snow in the forecast for this week. As a guide, I enjoy the challenge of figuring out these dynamic rivers, and my approach is to do my best to productively fish the conditions at hand. Still, I feel bad for those people who just want a little bit of wading water, but there is no sense in getting worked up over things that are completely out of our control.

The fly boxes offered on the Web site and in my newsletters have been selling really well lately, and I want to express my appreciation to everyone who has made a purchase. I will be putting together an option to order customized boxes on the site very soon. This way, everyone will have the chance to create a selection based on personal needs and preferences, and the specialized boxes will also still be available. My next project will be to create a killer sculpin box. Look for this product to be introduced in the upcoming newsletter for March.

Be sure to sign up for the subscription version of the newsletter to receive bonus content and special promotions – we have been receiving scores of accolades regarding the quality of the exclusive articles. Also, be sure to check out my blog at http://troutdoctor101.wordpress.com/ . I have just posted a comprehensive article about dry fly fishing the White River, Norfork Tailwater and Lake Taneycomo on the blog, and this piece is a must-read, if you have any interest in learning about the exciting opportunities to fish for large Ozark trout with dry flies.

My guide schedule is starting to fill in a little bit, but I still have many openings for the remainder of February and beyond. If you have ever considered a guided fly fishing trip on the White, Norfork or Lake Taneycomo, the next month is the perfect opportunity to act on this desire. The flows will likely be constantly fluctuating, which is exactly what we want in order to take full advantage of the shad kill, but these conditions will make it tough on those intent on wading the whole time. With so many big fish around on all the rivers, the fishing over the next month, or so, will be remembered for a long time. Be sure not to miss out on all the fun, and never hesitate to call or write me if you have any questions at all.

I have had great success fishing falling water up by Bull Shoals Dam over the years, but many of the local guides hate this type of change in conditions. Each day is different, but I think the fact that the water is shallow and lacks structure up by the Dam has created a situation where the fish do not have to change spots frequently during falling water - so the trout will continue feeding up there during drastic reductions in flow. We decided to try my Miracle Fly. Up until today, I have kept this pattern pretty close to the vest, but now I am ready to share the concept with my readers. There is a link below to an article Blue Ribbon wrote about the history of this fly and my role in its development. Using a modified egg pattern is not for the purist, but as a guide, I need to have flies that produce for all skill levels of fly fishermen. The Miracle Fly has saved my day many times. Although this pattern simplifies fly fishing, there is an art to getting the presentation exactly right. I cover all aspects of fishing the Miracle Fly on my guide trips, so let me know if you are interested in experiencing this spectacular action.

Back to the fishing: We all rigged up with a Miracle Fly, and the bite was like something out of a dream. The fly would not usually drift for more than a few seconds before getting bit – these fish up there were swarming the fly. At this point, the water was fluctuating between two and three units worth of flow. Double hook-ups were common all afternoon, and we even had a couple of triples. The video that accompanies this report shows just how insane the action was up there. The biggest fish we landed was an 18-inch rainbow, but the majority of trout were thick and healthy. It seems like it takes a few weeks before the really big ones start hitting consistently after the opening, but it does look like the concentrations of fish are very high in the area.

The shad kill could commence any day, but it is hard to say, considering the fact that the lakes are again getting back close to power pool levels. They shut Norfork off in the afternoon yesterday, and as mentioned, Bull Shoals really pulled back over the course of the day. If we could just stay dry for a solid month, there would be more wading water with each passing day, but I doubt that will happen. Please click the link below to learn more about the Miracle Fly, and also check out the new newsletter. If you haven’t subscribed, be sure to do so, as there is an exclusive article in this month’s subscription edition about how to take advantage of the wind. There are also several special promotions running, so just sign up at the bottom of almost any page to start getting the loaded version of the newsletter.

February has started out very well from a fishing perspective, and the forecast is for steadily good fishing to continue. Look for more wading opportunities to pop up if the lakes continue dropping, and now is the time to start fishing shad patterns early in the morning when the dams crank the water up. My guide schedule is starting to fill in, but I still have plenty of openings. There are no other rivers in the country where you get so much bang for your buck, as even a slow day of fishing in the Ozarks is often more productive than a good day on other famous trout fisheries around the country. Yesterday was a day that most fly anglers dream about having, and I just wish I had been able to share that bite with one of my clients.

*There will be a fly tying class this Tuesday at Lilley’s Landing (7pm). Ask at the office for the specific room location. As always, bring your tools, and we will provide all materials.

**On Saturday February, 13^th, I will be hosting a fly tying class at Shepherd of the Hills Hatchery below Table Rock Dam. The program will start at 2pm until 3:30pm.

With all this talk of the shad kill and how amazing the fly fishing can be when everything comes together, I dug up this footage from New Zealand that I remember coming across - it shows what happens when there are tons of mice near a river loaded with big trout. This short video is very entertaining, and I was amazed at how these big fish will just gently slurp the mice down like they are a mayfly – the bites can get deliberate during the shad kill as well, especially once the trout become accustomed to feeding on the newly available food source. Hopefully, everyone will enjoy seeing this, and keep in mind that shad kill fishing can be similar to what has been chronicled in this film. There is no feeling like fishing a river full of aggressively opportunistic trout. I cannot wait for the shad kill to start – it could be happening any day now. And I would plan a trip around that “mouse hatch” if I could find out exactly where this video was shot.

January 12 2010
Small Report

I just wanted to let everyone know that I am continuing to improve my Web site and content. Please be sure to check out the shad kill article that I wrote. This event will be happening soon with the recent stretch of Arctic weather, and the bite will be insane when the shad start trickling through.

My newsletter has been receiving positive reviews, so if you haven’t signed up, please enter your email address into one of the sign-up boxes located throughout the site. The subscription-only edition contains special discounts and promotions, along with exclusive articles that delve into the thoughts and life of a White River fly fishing guide.

I will also be adding another how-to step on the fly tying page. The fishing has been…well, not many folks have braved the cold recently, so the trout are getting a rest. The chilly weather is supposed to break this week. I plan on getting out there once icing of fly rod guides is no longer an issue.

 January 10 2010

Getting ready for the "Shad Kill"

Over the last week, I have been quite busy tending to my new boy and tying fly boxes that are being offered in my most recent newsletter. I haven’t had too many chances to get out and fish, but as I’m sure many of you have heard, the South is mired in cold temperatures right now. Although the frigid conditions make trout fishing a little uncomfortable, this recent snap should really get the shad coming through Bull Shoals, Norfork and Table Rock Dams. To learn more about the shad kill, check out this comprehensive article that I worked on with an associate: Understanding an Ozark Shad Kill . The heaviest shad kills occur below Bull Shoals Dam for a myriad of reasons, but all the other tailwaters can see an influx in shad from the lakes through mid-April. My favorite spots for taking advantage of this event are up by Bull Shoals Dam (which reopens in just three short weeks) and on the Norfork – on the ‘Fork, you never know what you might hook up with.

Water flows continue to be unpredictable on Lake Taneycomo, and recently the flows have been fluctuating between one and two units. Who knows when we will see prolonged low water? Still, fishing is great. Norfork and Bull Shoals Dams are operating at capacity right now, as they are just about done lowering those lakes. Once they draw the reservoirs down to power pool levels, there should be some wading water down in Arkansas. This could happen within a week on the Norfork – it’s only four feet high! The Corp can really dump a lot of water in a hurry. Bull Shoals still has eight feet to get rid of, and considering that Beaver Lake is still holding seven feet, it could take three weeks to a month before all of that gets sorted out on the White River Chain. If we can stay dry, there should be lots of wading on the Norfork over the next few months. I am excited about this prospect because the recent reports from fishing low water over there are fantastic.

Please drop me a line if you want more information on fishing the shad kill. This could be the best year in awhile for a prolonged kill, and the high numbers of big fish in both the rivers will make for some great memories. The first shad has not been officially sighted, but when the word gets out, I usually get very busy. I can say with a bit of confidence that there will be smatterings of shad come through over the remainder of January, and by the beginning of February, shad will come through the dams every time they run decent amounts of water. Hopefully, we will see a scenario where water levels fluctuate between high and low, as it can be tough when the shad come through heavy for weeks at a time during consistently high release periods. I like conditions that force the trout to be on the lookout for shad. Amazingly, I’ve seen shad pouring out of Bull Shoals Dam one minute, and then after they shut off the water, the fish started feeding heavily on scuds and midges right away. You never know what to expect during a shad kill.

December 24 2009
White River and Lake Taneycomo Fly Fishing Report

Over the last few days, flows on Lake Taneycomo have been cut in half. Now they are running two units pretty much around the clock. This reduction has made for some really productive fishing around the outlets and near the islands in the Point Royal area. These are perfect levels for drift fishing, as you will get bites just about anywhere when using standard high-water rigs and patterns. Worms and eggs are to go-to flies right now. It is hard to predict exactly what will happen on Taneycomo over the next few weeks, but it would not surprise me if the water did get shut down at some point very soon. The Corp is making room for the water in Beaver Lake, but at some point, they will have lowered Table Rock Lake to a desirable level. Regardless, the fishing is “on” right now, and the rainbows are in excellent shape.

As some of you may know, Summer and I are expecting our second child sometime in January, so please wish us luck, and we are both very excited. I promise to keep everyone updated, and I will continue to post reports as often as I can. It looks like 2010 is going to be a great year for fly fishing in the Ozarks, and I am very excited about the prospect of catching many of the trophy fish that are prevalent. All the trout fisheries are reaping the benefits of the extended high water we have experienced over the last two years.

***For those of you that received my recent newsletter/email update, here is the picture of the shad pattern fly box I am offering for $36. Also, if you are interested in receiving my newsletter or hearing about upcoming promotions, there are several places on the site to sign up: at the bottom of the home page, on the bottom of the Taneycomo page, and on the contact page.