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I haven't had the opportunity to try it myself yet, but I read about the following setup. Tie on your tippet as normal, but tie on an second ten to twelve inches with a double surgeon's knot. Make sure you leave three to four inches of tag from the upper line. Tie a simple overhand knot at the end of the tag. Add split shot as needed to get the depth you need. If the split shot catches the bottom, the overhand knot will give, split shot slips off, and you don't use your fly. Again, I haven't tried it yet, but the rig makes sense to me.

Seriously...LOL

That is what one calls a good day. Thanks for the report.

If gas doesn't go to 5 bucks a gallon this summer, I just might.

Is the current slow enough to two people to paddle upstream and float back down?

Added.

What colors and sizes?

This is just mayflies. The caddis flybox will be next, then midges, stoneflies, and terrestrials.

Gas is going up, the weather sucks, and I'm stuck at work most of the time. So, I decided to develop the "unofficial" OAF flyboxes. My plan over time is to develop boxes based on insect type and input from you all. I based my information from multiple sources from this forum, books on the subject, Ozark hatch charts, and my limited experience. As you will see, I have nothing on the drys as I'm just learning. So anyway, I am starting with mayflies. Please review and post your favorites for the individual hatches and life cycle stages. I'll add them until we get a good build. Over the year, I'll work on the rest. Enjoy and post... Ozark Anglers Fly Box.pdf

I've never fished for smallmouth before. After being on this forum for a while, I really want to give it a try. I found this tidbit on another site, and was wondering if any of the regulars could verify if it is true. Thanks in advance... "From it's headwaters to the Highway 19 Bridge, the Bourbeuse is a very nice wade-fishing stream. The water is a little more clear and fast moving than other areas of the river, and there is more "classic" smallmouth habitat. Also, this stretch of the river hasn't suffered nearly as harshly from the smallmouth population's main scourge, the non-native spotted bass, as the river further downstream. Fisherman can access this part of the river at the Mint Spring Access. There are also several private access that can be used provided you ask permission first. Floating is possible in this area of the river when the water is up, but this is mainly wade-fishing water. During dry years, the riffles between the pools can dry up altogether in the upper reaches, although the stream always seems to hold on to enough water to keep the fish population up."

I want to be there, but if gas keeps going up it will be to long of a drive in a month I vacationing for kid's spring break, and I won't be able to make it.

Our place is off the Shields river. My guide told me (and I've read elsewhere) that the lower section is "not the best trout water" in the area; it is mainly brown trout water; and I should bounce worms and live grasshoppers off the bottom early in the morning and late in the evening. My wife and I will spend a day with the guide on the Yellowstone and a day on a mountain stream. The guide told me it will be hopper time in August. I will probably try the upper portion of the Shields for cut's on my own. We will spend at least one day in the park taking photos and being tourists. Man I can't wait.

Depending on the date, I'll bring my eight year old.

I was watching the trout cam this morning from the kickoff, and it was empty. It looked like one guy had the whole upper dam hole to himself. I wonder how packed the spring was or wasn't.

Welcome from a fellow vet. I haven't been to the White so can't help out there, but post a report when your done.

Thanks for the reports...keep them coming. I will be up there for the first time in Aug for fishing and touring.

One word...SWEET. Thanks for the pic.

On creeks I use a system for catching trout that works awesome and almost always keeps from gut hooking them. Middle hook the worm and put weight on the line 12 to 15 inches above the hook. The tough part is finding just enough weight to bounce it along the bottom. Then make a 1/4 upstream cast. Drop the rod low and reel in the line until it is just tight. Then follow the hook with the rod while raising the rod as it comes to you and dropping it as it goes away from you keeping the same tension throughout the pass. After the line pulls tight you can reel it in or swing it across current. By keeping the line tight you can feel and see the slightest hit. It is sort of like tight lining for catfish but with a moving line. The dead drift of the worm wriggling down the current kills on the trout, and I assume it would work just as good for bass. I might gut hook one out of 30/40 fish. I will either keep that one or cut the line. The best set up I have found for this set up is to put high vis line on the reel and then tie on six to eight feet of fluorocarbon. I have always wanted to try to a small clear water creek for bass. Drop me a PM if you ever have room for someone to tag along?

Awesome report. Thanks. I got to make it down there this year.

Great report and pics. Thanks for posting.

I will definently try out the indicators flys on my Bennett trip in May. I did try the thingamabobbers. For me (and maybe my inexperience) they didn't work well at Blue Creek because so many of the casts there are simple wrist flicks. I found them to be just a tad to heavy. On the bigger pools/runs, were I'm casting they worked fine. My guess is I will have a setup for Blue Springs and another for everyone else. That is just half the fun...figuring out things like that.

Sweet day. Thanks for the report.

I'm still trying to figure out my ideal setup. I have gone through quite a few scenarios. The indicator fly didn't work in some of my situations (turbulent water) because once it went under it wouldn't come back up. I'm going to try a new setup next trip out. I have a 7.5, 3x tapered leader. At the end of that, I will tie a small ring found on furled leaders (you can get them at Feather-Craft in St. Louis). I'm adding this because I change tippet a lot to change depths. The ring will keep me from burning through the leader and allow me to switch straight to 7x tippet when required. Just above the ring, I will put on half of a foam indicator. I've used the half indicators which is the perfect size for my rig, but something happens when you cut them in a half. They don't like to stay on the line. So, I'm taking a tube of superglue and will put some on the indicator. I always have an indicator on because I can't see dry flies half the time anyway. My only concern is if the superglue will make the end of the leader brittle and lower the line strength. I'll let you know how it works out.

I'm surprised it made it this long.

I have had a pair of Redington's going on six years and they are just now starting to wear out. I've been looking at those same pair you are. If you get them, please drop me a PM and let me know how you like them.