Jack Jones

Thank you for the reminder, or in the case of us novices, a bit of new info. I've enjoyed the fight on my 4wt down there, but under the circumstances, I'll likely switch up to my 6wt with a stronger tippet so I can get them to net quicker. I usually use 6x tippet on a 6x leader. Do you recommend moving up to 5x for either leader, tippet, or both?

Thanks Leonard.....any recommendations on sizes of buggers at night? Was thinking size 10 or 8 in black or olive? Also, what are your thoughts about stripping cracklebacks at night?

I was there for two hours today stripping cracklebacks near outlet 2. I did pretty good. Quite a few smaller browns, and three nice bows. The biggest bow looked to be about 18-20 inches in the water, but couldn't net him. He broke off. As I was driving home, the sun came out too. Overall, a good trip.

I know folks are always talking about stripping pine marabous, buggers, and other streamers at night, but does anyone have an opinion on, or experience with dead drifting scuds, or midges after dark? Is it productive or a waste of time? I want to head down to the hatchery one of these nights and stay past dark, but don't want to waste my time using the least effective flies.

Sam was right. I went to Shadow Rock and flung buggers about 6:30. I came up with plenty of babies and a few bluegill. That was about it. Maybe I should have tried Empire. It was still fun anyway. I did see some leaping out and making a good splash well off shore, near to the other side, but couldn't make out what they were. Whatever it was, it didn't come near me.

I probably would have called too and made a little bit of a stink because that's my nature. All the while, I'd know it means nothing to the corporation, and in reality, could have very negative ramifications on the workers who probably really need the job. My experience has been that corporations over-react to customer complaints and take it out on the low level employees rather than fix what is usually a more systemic problem. As long as it's not costing them too much money, it's an acceptable risk/loss.

I was going to be working in the area on Friday and considered bringing my fly rod to Shadow Rock park now that the waters are receded. I was also considering just below the dam. Anyone fished either area recently to give an idea of what's been biting? I was figuring on just stripping leeches, buggers, and clousers to see what I come up with.

My opinion after seeing my daughter go through this is that parents as coaches seems to cause more problems than not. They don't always seem to have a good working knowledge of the sport and its ethics, nor do they always have a passion for it. So, how can they pass down what they don't have? Inevitably on the teams I saw, the coach's kid was one of the best players. I'm not faulting them for that. That's great. Unfortunately, I think it definitely caused issues with the other kids because they would see their coach cheering for their kid probably more than them. It may just have been a perception thing, but it made a difference. Would have been nicer if they had made the coach's kids play on a different team. That said, I agree with mic. I think it's a byproduct of the kiddie diddler boogey man that an adult who wants to volunteer time and involve themselves in kid's lives must be inherently disordered and want to wrongly touch children. I don't recall it ever being that way growing up and I can remember some of the people who had the most impact on me were simply grownups willing to spend time with impatient, bull-headed, and rowdy kids when they certainly could have been doing something else. In this day and age, anything that discourages volunteerism and participation just coarsens and hurts us all. There's my .10 cents.

Haven't had too many up here near Springfield (close to Ozark), but I can't wait for the smell and the crunch. Only downside is picking floating leaves off the flies.....

I've seen tool kits on Orvis and such. Does anyone recommend just a tool kit, or do you recommend the individual route on tools too?

While up in Columbia for a conference this week I had a few hours to steal away to this park. It was only about 15 minutes from the hotel. A very nice area to explore. It is just adjacent to Rocky Forks Conservation area also. Anyway, I was fishing a 9' 6wt with buggers the whole time. Chartreuse and Black mostly. Tried a white/silver Clouser for a bit, but came up short. Sizes ranged from 6-10 on the buggers. Came away with a few small bass, two gills. The picture is representative of the bass I was catching. I wish I had my kayak with me because it really looks like a nice collection of lakes and ponds to kayak and just enjoy the peace. I just wish I had more time to spend up there. I'm not sure it would necessitate but it's nice to be aware of it, in case I have to go back.

I have never tied a fly in my life. I am looking for a starter kit with tools to get me going. I'm only looking to learn a handful of flies I use regularly: 1. scuds 2. woolly buggers and BH buggers 3. BH prince 4. some midges and copper johns 5. cracklebacks 6. deer hair pellets 7. Clouser minnows I've looked at the Wapsi Deluxe Kit. It seems to contain quite a bit of what I want, in tools and many of the designs. Does anyone have any experience with a Wapsi kit? Are there others that people would recommend? I know this has probably been covered to death, but anyone want to give it another go?

Now that it sounds like it could end up like an episode of "River Monsters", I truly am intrigued.

As a point of reference, are you talking about the parking area right below the darn next to the power plant? Are you guys just walking the bank and throwing in? I've never hit that spot but want to. Was thinking of putting in my kayak there, but I'm unsure if I'd be able to paddle back up to the parking lot from down river. I'll admit, the thought of hooking a gar, or anything bigger than 12-15 inches that isn't a trout, a tree branch, or a rock sounds kind of cool.

I use a 6th for bass and have used it in the tailwaters for trout too with any problems. I would think that unless you're looking for a rod to eventually travel with to the on bigger fish in other locales, I don't think that an 8 wt would see as much use as you'd think. It would certainly allow you to horse the fish but to me that cuts down on the fun of playing them.

Smallie--- that's some good stuff. You are certainly making the case for tying your own flies. It's something I plan to get to. Just don't know when. That second picture with the rabbit strip, what size weedless hook is that? Dano --- thanks for that link.

Maybe it was the lateness of the post or the effect of the sunshine, but I didn't even consider doing another loop to loop. Wayne, I was using a sinking VersaLeader at 3.9in/s to get the fly down quicker. They have a few inches of mono at the end, the rest is covered. Just wasn't using my brain I guess.

Was perusing the internet this evening and ran across this article: http://www.buckeyeflyfishers.com/Articles/alternative/all_fish_all_waters.htm Got me thinking about whether anyone here might have tried a small senko, grub, or plastic worm on the fly? What about an inline spinner like a Mepps? I'm probably going to kill some time looking for commercial sellers for longer, worm type flies, and other alternative flies. Just for fun.

Took to the Delaware Access this evening with my waders after coming back from Roaring River. I have a Cortland Fairplay rod that is weighted for a 5/6. I had Tim throw some 6wt line on and WOW! What a difference in the casting of this rod with the heavier line. Much more accurate, and very good on distance. I threw buggers mostly. Tried white, chartreuse and black. Not much luck. I tried the clouser that Flysmallie sent me. I pulled in two smallmouth around 7in and 10 in. That was fun. Also managed to pull in a very agressive little fingerling bass who hopefully will grow up with the same attitude he hit my line with. Next extra fundage I get, I'm going to invest in a head lamp for night wading, and probably a nice wading stick.

Used one last night on the James with my 6wt. It got the fly down quick, but I notice that the end of it isn't that long. Once I've tied all the tippet I can, and am down to the rubber liner, then what? Can you strip back the liner? I've also thought about maybe tying tippet onto it with a blood knot. Any users of these want to share their experiences in making them last a while?

Soooo........................Yeah......................Listened to the first quarter on my way down to Roaring River and that was all it took. Saw the score on the drive back on my Iphone. Wow! Talk about a massacre. Not a good start guys. Not at all.

I'm curious if anyone out there kayak fishes this lake. Is it doable? If anyone is into it, can you give suggestions of where to put in, where to fish, and what the best baits to use this fall would be (both spincast and fly)? Any input would be appreciated.

At the rate the SEC is going, might as well make it a separate division all to itself. I think a defection by Mizzou would make so little sense. They just aren't ready for that level. One great season does not a bar of excellence make. Personally, I'd love to see them scrap the entire Bowl series and revert to a tournament like basketball. The divisions and alignments make so little sense anymore when you have southern teams in the Big East, 12 teams in the "Big 10", ten teams in the "Big 12", changes galore, etc.... That said, the heck with all of them GO UCONN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I avoided fishing all weekend until mid Monday afternoon. I hit outlet 2 around 3:00. I did the usual scuds in grey and tan. They took in a few smalled ones, but probably lost more on the hookset than I took in. What really got them was a micro egg in a peach/red dot pattern I had tied on to a hare's ear as a trailer. They absolutely loved it. As it got towards evening I stripped a brown crackleback across the current and took in two very large (at least to me) bows. I didn't measure unfortunately but they were easily towards the higher end of the slot limit. They put up a hell of a fight and was a lot of fun on my 4wt. Main thing about the trip was that I used fluoro for the first time. I had splurged over the weekend on some 6x Orvis Mirage. What a difference! No breakoffs, great strength. I am sold. It's pricey, but seems to be worth it.

Barred.......with much trepidation and patience for the tangles you will surely receive. Sometimes there is such a thing as too much of a good thing.