jay bird

Thanks for the information guys I really appreciate it. To the guy with the two broke ankles I hope everthing works out and the other surgeries do not put you out to much this year.

Does any one know of some good Wheel Chair access on Taney that has a good potential for catching some trout. I have a patient that I would really like to introduce to fishing and think it would be a great hobby for him. Lilley I was wondering about your dock, but I have never been down there so I have no idea what it looks like. Thanks Jason

Me and a friend of mine ordered some blanks and are going to give it a try. Any pointers

Any one with any experience building Fly Rods?

Fished below zinc dam today not in the most ideal conditions. Wind, rain, and more wind. We started fishing about 10:00 am and stopped at 2:00 P.M. They stopped generating at the dam about ten and started again at two. After checking flow rates it never dropped below 1000 feet per second while we where there. Total we had only six fish nothing huge. This is a real learning curve area with the water running, but I would be willing to try again. I did have one very interesting thing happen. About 10 minutes after we started fishing I got hit hard and had one of the best fights I have ever had on a fly rod. I was using an eight weight and this fish pulled me all over the place, taking drag and making great runs. When we finally got is close we saw that what ever I had was hooked in the tail. In ended down stream about 10 yards away and I could not budge it. The hook came out and all we really got a good look at was the tail. I am pretty sure it was a spoon bill after seeing one on the bank dead that had the same color and tail. It was a great fight and for about 5 min. I thought I had a monster striper on. Would like some more input on this fishery. Thanks

Have the water levels been high this week? I think I am reading the chart right and they look a little high. We are planning to go on Saturday, but with the rain I am a little worried that they will generate. Butts I plan on calling you about noon today if that is OK.

Brent thanks for the above info. I was wondering if I could pick your brain for a couple more. How is the fishing in Mid-March? How long of a drive is it down there? And most imporant is this lake a lower unit killer like some of the other lakes in Texas? Thanks Jason

Thanks guys for the input. Bill I was not able to find that article you where talking about, but I will try again. I have a 2004 Lowe deck boat with a 70 # thrust trolling motor. I am only going to troll in the late morning to extend the bite a little. I grew up using downriggers out on the Pacific Ocean, and have thought about putting one or two on my boat, but I have mixed feelings about this with a fly rod. Steve I just have a cheap 9 ft 8 weight right now (bass pro cv2), but I am planning to start building rods and would like to end up with a loomis before the season hits. Some time this winter I will head your way and talk sinking line with you. Thanks jason

I moved from Oregon about 8 years ago and grew up fishing all over Oregon and Montana. Out there catching 10 fish on a fly rod in a couple of hours was outstanding and fairly rare. The first night I was at Taney I am sure I caught over ten fish and now if I do not catch 25 or more it is just a so so night. I know that there is a difference between wild trout fisheries and stocked, but this is an outstanding fishery and I feel blessed to live with in drving distance of it.

Did you ever fly fish for the striper on Texoma.

Great looking fish. That 50 is huuuge!!!!!

Thanks for the great information. I will take you up on the phone call before we go fishing the last weekend in January.

I live in Cassville, MO. I will probably meet my fishing buddies in Aurora and hit 44 west. Thanks again for the info.

Thanks guys I am looking forward to trying it out. If either of you could give me some simple directions I would really appreciate it. Thanks Jason

I need some information on sinking fly-line for some striper fishing this year on Beaver Lake. The last time I used sinking line was back in the 80's and I just knew it was sinking instead of floating. What I am looking for is depth different lines will get at different speeds of either drift or troll. In the spring striper seem to stay anywhere from the surface to 30 ft of water. As the water warms that depth increases with the thermacline and flyfishing for me becomes difficult. I am guessing that the line is catagorized by speed of decent. What I am looking for if possible is to target specific depth. Example if I had 100ft of line out moving at a speed of 2 MPH I would be at 25ft depth with a (blank sinking line) Thanks for the help.

Sound like I need a new job. My business trips do not usally involve a fly rod. Did you just fish below Zink or did you also try Keystone. Okieflyfisher seems to fish both and I was wondering if they will be at different levels at the same time. So if one has to much water run up and see what the other one is doing. Planning a trip the end of January to try it out.

Thanks Bill sounds like a good road trip for this time of year.

Two questions. How far of a drive is that? Would it be safe to use a 5 weight rod?

Check out the striper part of this forum Bill and some of the other guys are a great resource. On Beaver lake I took a week off the second week of May last year and had a blast. There was a lot of people camped in the campsite that week with the sole purpose of fishing striper. Top water action was great that time last year and having the whole week to pattern the fish was a huge advantage.

Thanks Bill I am just trying to find a way to start my Striper/Hybrid fishing early this year, and I plan on putting my reports on this wed site and hope others will to.

Just wanted to give a quick introduction, my name is Jason Dickinson and I live in Cassville, MO. I am a transplant from Oregon who was lucky enough to have both grandparents live in Montana. This enabled me to spend a number of summers with them fishing the lakes and streams. I started fly-fishing when I was 12, but still enjoy to grab a bait caster or spinning reel. I fish taney at night all year around, Roaring during catch and release, table rock for bass, crappie, and white bass. The white bass I have switched to using a fly-rod in the last four years, because there is nothing that will fight harder on a 5 weight rod than a 3# white bass. My new addiction is Striper/hybrids on Beaver lake. I remember my first striper fishing trip. My neighbor was telling me about striper fishing and gave me a map of Beaver lake and gave me some zara spookes to use. I took the day off from work, got on the spot just as it was getting light and tied on my lure. There was no wind and the lake was crystal clear. I tossed out the zara and gave it a couple of quick jerks, out from below the lure came what I first thought looked like a tarpon. It was over three feet long and huge. It missed my lure twice and disappeared back into the deep. I remember sitting down in my little bass boat and thinking of that famous line from Jaws (I need a bigger boat). I landed one that was about 25 inches long that day and it looked like a dink compared to the first fish. Since then I can not wait for spring and striper action. I have really enjoyed this post and am looking forward to learning and to share what information I may have.

I was referring like you said that Striper/hybrids do not reproduce in Beaver lake. ( as far as I know). I was wondering if they follow there cousins ( white bass) at about the same time, or do they go earlier in the year up the rivers and creeks. I have seen guides post different prices this time of year for lake fishing or a creek arm run. Thanks again for the information that every one puts down I am learning a lot. I hope as the season progresses even more people will post there reports/information. It really helps to narrow down area/technique for these fish when you are only able to go once a week at the most.

That is the only thing holding me back is the low water for night fishing at this time. One lower unit repair a year is enough. I have also heard about Striper making a false run up into the creeks in early spring is that true?

Went down the other night for a couple of hours. Had about 10 nothing big 17 inches or so. Bite was either very soft or they hit it like a ton of bricks no real in between. Used the old reliable # 8 black wooley with grizz hackel. Water had good flow under # 2, but above seemed a little lower that normal. Did not go down to KOA, but was wondering what it was like down there. Good luck

Fishing night or day