Greg

Tim my wife and I were down to RR a week ago (last Tues). She got to fish more than I did because I was attending a conference at the lodge. My wife's the one that bought the "hooked on a cure" Ross reel from your shop. Anyway during the few hours I got to fish - I was surprised at the size of the fish I caught. Most were in the 14 to 15 inch range. Do you think that was random or do they normally stock them a little bigger at RR? Or maybe holdovers from winter? I was also surprised at how lightning quick the takes were on the bh nymph I was fishing. You had to be really fast setting the hook or the fish was gone! I caught some but missed a lot more. Greg

Attached is a pic of a nice rainbow I caught right at dusk last Sunday 4/23/06. My wife and I had a nice day. We caught a lot of decent sized rainbows through the late afternoon and evening. Then this big one. He took a wooly bugger. Not sure how big he was as I didn't have a tape measure. Certainly well over 20". Beautiful colors too. Released of course. Please ignore the goofy grin I'm wearing. Greg

Can I ask if you were fishing at night? I've never used a bucktail streamer. That's pretty cool to me that an old time pattern like the mickey finn still works. I'll have to give it a try. Greg

That's a good picture. Yes it looked just like that. I might not have noticed it but it flew right over me. It was just a little smaller than a bald eagle and had the black facial markings. It had a pretty large trout too - definitely not a little "stocker". Greg

Just curious Phil - Are they on the lake year round? I wish I had gotten a picture of it. Greg

Yesterday while fishing on the uppper lake I saw what looked like a large osprey with a trout. Has anyone else ever seen one on Taneycomo? I guess it could have been an eagle but it flew pretty low so I got a good look at it and I've seen osprey in Minneosota years ago and that is what this looked like to me. He/she had a pretty large trout in its talons. Greg

Thanks for the info Brian. We do definitely plan to come down to your area and fish with you (if possible)late summer or fall this year. Greg

Thanks for the info. The recent stocking explains it. Greg

My wife and I finally made the trip to Arkansas to fish the white and norfork. We fished the Norfork on Sat around Quarry Park. On Sunday we fished Rim Shoals. We had an exceptional afternoon fishing the Norfork on Sat. It started out slow but got better as the afternoon wore on. We're from Missouri and it was just awesome to catch all 4 species of trout in one area. I got the "AR slam" on my first try. But it was kind of a weak slam. My 2 brookies and 2 browns were really small (9 or 10"). But I caught a nice cutthroat (16") and several nice 15 to 16" rainbows. My wife caught the fish of the day a 18" rainbow (I've attached a picture of her and the fish). She also caught a nice 14" brook. We caught them on a variety of flies: zebra midges, scuds, and wooley buggers. The only negative was we both caught a lot of small 9/10" cutthroats. I'm curious if AR stocks the cuts smaller or if they grow slower than the rainbows? Almost all of the rainbows we caught were larger. But they were all fun to catch. We can't wait to come back. Greg

My wife and I finally made the trip to Arkansas to fish the white and norfork. We fished the Norfork on Sat around Quarry Park. On Sunday we fished Rim Shoals. Both days were good. The fishing is somewhat similiar to Taneycomo but definitely different. Rim Shoals is just a beautiful area. I was hoping to see the caddis hatch but it never came off. But we both caught fish throughout the afternoon on a variety of small nymphs. A lot of little 10 to 11" cutthroats but some decent 14 to 15" rainbows as well. I'm curious in that on both rivers we both caught a lot of small cutthroats. We caught plenty of decent rainbows as well and I'm certainly not complaining but I'm just wondering if that is the norm? I posted a separate report on our trip to the Norfork. We stayed at the whispering woods cabins just above the dam. I can't wait to come down again. Greg

I think you may be out of luck. My family and I go to Montauk several times a year and have never had cell service work in the park. My wife and I currently have Alltel but our teenage son has cingular. Neither work. Greg

I agree with you about the great fight most of the brown trout of that size put up. Last fall I caught a brown about that same size 19/20" and he never really gave up. I was about to break him off because I was afraid the length of the fight would kill him. But I finally did get him in and he seemed fine when I released him. Greg

Fished Sunday 4/2 in the afternoon. It was absolutely the windiest day I have ever tried to fly fish. Was anyone else out there? I tried nymphing with an indicator but it was just impossible to get a decent drift with that amount of wind. Didn't even attempt a dry. I finally figured out I could kind of cast straight downstream and strip a wooly. Once I started doing that I caught some. Maybe 20 in the 4 hours I was there including a couple or 3 decent 15 to 16" fish. Unfortunately I had brought my 11 year with me for his first trip of the year. Poor little guy couldn't cast at all in the wind. And he got bored with me casting for him pretty quickly. I wish I had brought him a spinning rod. My wife didn't fare much better. They ended up going shopping and then watching me for the last hour. Even with the wind it was still enjoyable though. Can't say I've ever had a bad day fly fishing at Taneycomo.

jOrOb One thing you might try regarding a vise is ebay. Sometimes you can get a used Thompson vise for an extremely reasonable price. I've seen them go for as little as $10. A used Thompson is still a great vise. I've had one for 30 years and it still works great. The other tools just aren't that expensive. So you really don't have to spend a fortune to start tying. Greg

The local weather is showing mid 50's for a high at this point and lows in the 30's. That's actually pretty nice fishing weather in my opinion. Greg

I'm not 100% sure - but I don't think roaring river has ANY bait areas like Bennett Springs does. Also I would go with 2 lb line. I fly fish now - but when I fished with a spinning/spincast rod I got two or 3 times as many strikes on 2 lb line as opposed to 4 lb. Actually I used to tie a swivel onto the end of my 4 or 6 lb line and then tie on a length of the 2 lb. I used to use rooster tails and the soft plastic "worm" type lures. Good luck, Greg

My family's house just south of Springfield was fine. But a friend I work with at St. John's that lives near Aurora - his house was completely destroyed. A total loss. Greg

Rod building thread is cheap. That is what I would use. Greg

I first fished Taneycomo in I believe 1977. When I was 17. I fished it off and on through my teens and early to mid 20's. I remember seeing some huge trout caught pretty regularly in the late 70's and early 80's. I caught some decent fish but never anything huge. During the late 80's and 90's I just fished Taney a few times and I remember thinking "Where did all the BIG trout go?". I started fly fishing regularly again about 3 years ago. In that time I've caught more and bigger trout (mostly at Taneycomo) than at any time in my life. And I just consider myself an average fly fisherman. The slot limit on the upper lake was just the ticket. It's been great. Greg

Thanks for everyone's response. I'm an admitted gear fanatic and find it facinating to know what everyone's preference is in rods (and reels) and why. I found it interesting that several people that responded like the Scott rods so much. I've never cast one. That may need to change. thanks again. Greg PS: Michael the fishing on Sunday was pretty good. I caught a lot of "dinks" throughout the afternoon but the last 2 fish of the day were a pretty decent brown and rainbow (both 15 or 16").

I would be interested in knowing everyone's favorite fly rod for Taneycomo. Meaning length, wt, and manufacturer and model. My favorite (at this point)is a custom made 8.5ft 5 wt rod a builder in Ark built for me last year. It is built on a St. Croix SCIII blank. The medium fast action just works really well for me. I also have an 8 ft 5 wt Bass Pro classic rod I really like and also a Sage FLi. I like the Sage Fli best when it is windy as it is pretty "fast" in terms of action. thanks, Greg

Hey no need to apologize for being picky. Being picky/particular about gear is why I have about 15 fly rods and 10 reels when I really just "need" 2 or 3. For me it hasn't filtered down to the flyboxes yet but it may in time. I hope you find what you are looking for. Greg

My family and I usually camp in our popup at Montauk. But a couple of times we have stayed at the parks cabins. They are pretty nice. There are several upscale ones that are really nice. The problem is that you have to book them months in advance. I have heard Reeds cabins are nice also. Last year we also stayed in a bed and breakfast that was pretty cool but it was about a half hour drive from montauk which was kind of a pain. http://www.riverbirchlane.us/sportsmen.htm You might also check out the links on this page: http://www.missouritrout.com/montauklinks.html Good luck, Greg

I agree with you in that it is hard to find a good flybox and I agree with the last poster in that the wheatley boxes you can customize are the best I have found to date. My kids got me one for Christmas 1994 and it is now my favorite by far. Mine has ripple foam on one side and slotted foam on the other. It looks like it will last forever, is not too thick, latches securely, holds a lot of flies, and is not horribly $$. The only thing I'm not sure of is if they float. They may because of the foam inserts? I've never tested it. I believe my kids ordered mine from: http://www.flyfishusa.com/flyboxes/wheatley-boxes.htm Greg

Thanks. That's an interesting looking fly. Looks simple to tie as well. Greg