Uncle Tupe

Picked this little guy up around Parker last fall. Stream born?

Fished from Baptist to near Ashley yesterday. Water level was great. It was good to see that much water back in the river as opposed to last year. I could tell there was a recent stocking as 10 inch browns were the prevalent hook up around Baptist. Fished a hopper/dropper or caddis/dropper on the way down with equal takes. Took a rest near Ashley tied on a Pats Rubberlegs and a long leader/tippet and had one fantastic afternoon. Not to many browns but many fat and thick 12 to 16 inch rainbows coming deep out of all the holes working back down to Baptist. Get out there before the heat of summer hits us.

Wow it was hot today. Set foot in the river at around 7:30am at Baptist with some cicada substitutes from Craig at Hargroves. Things started out well with 2 small bows (10in) and a brown with in 50 yards of the put in. The cicadas were not as loud as I had expected,even later in the day they never really cranked up but you could see them in stream mostly alive. As my luck goes I lost all my cicadas before the big S bend. The closest I had in my box were some large orange and large pink foam hoppers. I have never seen any topwater as hot as this. Mostly bows in the 12 to 15 inch range with a few small browns. I quit counting after 15 or so. I stood at the deepest hole( exposed cliff face) on the run for over an hour. It sounded like the diving tank at Shaw Park. What fun! I was getting really hot at about 12:30 and I headed back picking up a few more here and there. I have 1 question for all of you who tye your own. I was noticing all the live cicadas were fluttering on their backs would this not be a thought in tying a cicada pattern? I have no clue as I dont tye. Thanks to everyone for all the info. Your sharing your knowlede and experiences make my few fishing days more productive. UT

I have been watching this forum for a while learning more about the river from you regulars. This is my first post. Fished below Baptist on Tue. The river was up higher than I had ever fished it all of last year. The river has changed some, as logs have been moved and replaced, new holes have formed and some have filled in. Wading was fine but you had to be more careful. The soft sand and gravel at the edges of some deeper spots and it a little tricky and some old stand by crossings were not an options. As for the fishing, so so. I was mainly helping my son who's new to fly fishing learn a few things. Landed a few small browns 10 to 12 inches or so but on the 7ft 3wt it was fun. All were caught on beadhead pheasant tail nymphs. No takers on SJ worms or Egg patterns which surprised me with the off color of the water. One other note I saw more snakes than I ever have, large 5 foot rat snakes at least 5 or 6. Wonder if the high water has dislodged them. I know they wont hurt you but they still scare the crap out of you while hiking around. One last note, while working back to the car we hear what is surely a jet boat making its way up river. As we near the access a Ozark National Scenic Waterway search and rescue jet boat come flying up. They were trimming limbs and logs blocking the river. Kinda ruined the last 30min of fishing though. Over all a tough day fishing but great just to be fishing! Thanks for all the good info. UT