Phil Lilley

In the amateur division, day one runner up JD Dudley of Springdale AR managed to find three more bass on day two to bring his tournament total to 14.50 pounds, good enough to find himself the proud new owner of a 2009 Skeeter ZX 190 valued at $35,000. Dudley, a pastor in NW Arkansas, still couldn’t believe his good fortune even after Skeeter Boats representative Danny Blandford handed him the keys to the beautiful silver, white and red Skeeter. “I’m just in shock,” he gushed. “This is big. . .the biggest prize I’ve ever won,” he finished. Dudley’s catch, anchored by a 6.32 pound lunker, gave him nearly a 2.5 pound cushion over the runner up Bill Edwards of Ozark.

Just to make sure you've read my article on jig fishing... http://bransonlaketaneycomo.blogspot.com/ I think the key is practice more than anything. I find that when I have someone out that's new to it, as soon as they get a few hits and hookups under their belt, they "get it". Maybe it was slow when you were fishing before- it happens. Line size and rod selection is also important. You have to have a good feel for the jig- where it is and what it's doing- at all times. The fish will hit it on the fall 90% of the time so paying close attention to the line and feel of the rod is essential. Hope this helps.

A guide's dream is to put a client on big fish and Chuck does it best.

Jigs and cranks baits- I'd go down to the boat ramp, walk up a bit and then fish down- even all the way down thru the old KOA. Up at the cable too.

Have I missed something... there's no area below the dam where the gates is locked except maybe on the south side.

I think what I will do- Going to get tarps to wrap the shelter completely. I'll set it up well before the event- will talk to the hatchery and clear it with them. I can bring a heater if needed. I can do chicken again. Anything else that can make this a great event?

What exactly is popping up? Advertisements? And of what?

Been posting a few short videos on the homepage. I put them in flash and windows media so hopefully everyone can see them. I have more from my previous trips but it's going to take some time to format it all. See the front page of oa and also the video section for the different versions.

He's been over here delivering new flies...

Anyone else? If it's just you, Micheal, you probably have a virus. But if anyone else is having this problem, it's in our program and I need to fix it.

These were taken by Jacob, our English hand at camp. He's leaving Anchorage for London as I type. He and I took our OUPV Limited to Alaskan Rivers Captain License test yesterday and passed with flying colors. I'll have my license for both here and in Alaska by this winter.

Just search Phil Lilley. I think you'll recognize my photo with the bow. Flies- not sure of the streamers Jim was using the last couple of days- I'll ask. But beads and plain woolies were our staples in September. Jeremy- where is Brian Shaffer?

Just got back from camp and got their report from today"s fishing. Duane took Moose Watson and others to Idavain Creek- hiked up to the meadow and fish some dries and beads and did fair. Duane said the had 17 bear encounters and one scary moment when one bear cam running right at them thru tall grass. He got him stopped but only within a few feet. Duane thought the bear didn't see them. They caught rainbows and grayling. Guys went to Brooks and caught a few bows. They are hold up behind the trees again like last year. It was tough casting but they did drag some from the wood. Those that went on to Margot Creek didn't find the char like we did last week. Some at the mouth but not in the big numbers. Did find some up the creek where we did not. Thought is that the colored up ones went up to spawn and more fresh char from the lake is what they found at the mouth. Also some rainbows. We are going to try to go across the lake to Brooks and Margot tomorrow, depending on the wind forecast in the am. We have schedule a flight to Ugashik for Wednesday for BIG artic char.

Naknek gets a few thousand silvers but nothing like reds or pinks. Same with kings. Sockeye are spawning, turning nasty and dying. We do hook a few but they don't fight very well. They are a bother. Silvers are only in a couple of spots. We aren't messing with them because.... they're hard to catch for the clients we have. And they're aren't many. Kings are almost dead and gone. Besides, season is closed on fishing for them. We had an incredible day. Not on numbers but on size. Houston had 20 rainbows with three in the 28 inch range and I'd say at least 12 of the rest were over 24 inches. Tom had 16 rainbows with one at 28 inches and numerous over 24 inches. Troy had a 31 incher and again, lots over 24 inches. It really is incredible to see fish after fish look the same- big, fat, long, silver and fight like the dickens. Houston's trophy jumped 5 feet in the air when it got stuck.

A fabulous day on the river today. Very little wind (tons of bugs). Drifted a stretch about 1 mile in front of camp and used a 6 mm fl peach bead, shooting line on fly rod and Houston and Brian caught 35 each. Houston, the 15 year old in the group, caught two 27 inch rainbows and 4 others measuring between 23 and 24 inches. Brian caught one at 27, lost I don't know how many rainbows that size and bigger- the hook would just come out- no fault of his. Bill's group- Tom caught one 29 inch and one just under 30 inches, 12.5 pounds. Troy caught several in the 24 inch range. Bill and I didn't fish. No pics. Brian has left the country and I didn't get his pics. Troy took some but I don't have a card reader for his memory card.

Bill and I didn't fish today but Brian did. He drifted beads in front of camp. Caught a 29 and 28-inch rainbows and lots of smaller ones. Great fishing again. We have 3 new clients in camp this evening and we'll take them to the river tomorrow.

Without looking at troutbeads... we use a round toothpick and peg the bead on the line no more than 2 inches from the hook. If the bead slides down close to the hook, you won't get a bite. I actually feel the bead slide on the line when I get a bite sometimes. Our big rainbow mouths are so big the they eat the bead with the hook at the same time. Sometimes we hook the fish on the side of the head but not very often. Bottom line- it works GOOD!

Bill and Brian fished the Naknek River yesterday with some of the clients from camp and did real well. Drifting a 6 mm fl peach bead using their fly gear and shooting line. Some used big floats and 10 feet below the indicator- just like Taney! You could use spin gear and a drift rig and tear them up too. Lots of small rainbows, some char and red sockeye. But had numerous 28-inch rainbows in the group with one 31-inch in one of the other boats. Brian had a 26-inch and Bill had one close to that with several more just under that mark. Not my favorite way to fish... that's why I stayed home and ran to town for clients coming and going to the airport. I like to get out and wade the shoals but the rainbows haven't congregated in these spots yet. Too many salmon spawning in the main river yet. Give it a week and we'll see more big bruisers on the shoals.

Since when does changing your mid on something, or "flip flop" a negative? If you find out something you believe is wrong, admit it and change you stance, I would think it would be a noble thing? Admit your wrong... we all grow up and change our views on things. True, some people will say anything to get votes... I know that. But this flip flop thing is carried too far in most cases.

No firearms- just bear spray. These bears are used to people, not to say we take chances, esp with clients. They do give warning signs if they are nervous- yawning, popping of the jaw and we did have a bore walk by and yawn a couple of times which I was concerned about. But there were 8 of us and that in itself is intimidating to a bear, esp if we were to huddle up in a tight grouping. I can see where someone can get lured into loving these animals. Esp the cubs- they are so cute and cuddly. But the adults are huge and powerful and they are animals and don't think like us.

No, DD's MC, I won't hug and kiss him for ya. Man we had one of those days today. Boated to Margot Creek with Bill, Brian and 5 clients from Jim's camp. Got there by 10 am and left at 6 pm. 8 of us caught, no exaggeration boys, over 250 char that average 21 inches and as big as 28 inches. But these things are fat, thick and fought like crazy fish. Throw in 35 rainbows up to 24 inches, BEAUTIFUL weather, bears all around eating salmon and you have a day most only dream of. I got 90 minutes of video, mostly of bears but alots of bent rods too. All on beads, specifically one color- fl peach 6 mm. Enough talk- here's some pics. On the way over- spectacular view. Brian clicked this one. Was filming a mom and 3 cubs about 50 feet away, hooked a char and fought it right in front of her. They don't care about jumping fish right now cause they have plenty of fish that's not flopping around to eat. But she did jump over to investigate a flopping char later in the day- the angler had to break it off. But she was real nice to us, letting us fish her honey hole. She had the cutest cubs- 2 real dark chocolate and one brown. They ate and played all day just down from us. 10 casts, 7 char landed. I started taking pics of #2 after landing a very nice male char. One spot, 6 more char landed (pics) from 19-25 inches, 3 more hookups with the hook pulling out. Couple of rainbows caught by the guys yesterday that didn't get posted.

Kevin- do you even know what Pebble is? You should research it before you rattle off. Pebble Mine is right in the heart of THE largest sockeye fishery in the world. If the mine goes bad, it will poison the river forever. They say they can do this deal safely but even if they pay huge fines for any spill, the mine is worth Billions. It will happen I've heard, unfortuneately. It's on private ground. The feds can slow it down but I doubt if they can stop it. And Sara is against it.

Have to post some of Duane's pics... he had a great day. Drifted beads from my boat with 4 clients out in front of camp on the Naknek. They had one over 30 inches, one 29 and numerous 28's, 27's 26's... you get the picture. All rainbows. A few sockeye mixed in. Bill and Brian did the same. They had 3- 26 inchers. Duane guided a bunch of guys over at Ugashik last week. Here are some picture.

A great day today on the river and across the lake. Boat problems... one of the boats going over to Brooks wouldn't start this am so half the guys at camp stayed and fished rainbows on Naknek and the rest of us headed over. Brian and I went on to Margot after leaving the crew at Brooks, included our dearly beloved Duane. They had a good day (no details available). The guys here on the river drfited beads from the access to Shawbach's and slayed big bows. Numerous over 25 inches up to 29 I was told. They really turned on compared to the last few days. Good thing. Brian and I arrived at Margot Creek- no one in sight. It was almost noon so we ate our lunch so the bears would climb in my boat and eat it for us. I wanted to go up in the creek instead of starting at the mouth- I knew there were fish there but wanted to see the creek. Nope- mom and 3 cubs at the third bend. Fished down- nothing. The water level was low and clear... opposite from last year at this time. Got to the straight-away before the lake and started picking up a few char. All nice ones. But they just weren't eating our beads. Then we had one spit up some eggs. I matched the hatch right away and bam!! They started taking our beads on almost every drift. Had some guys fly in from Sportsman's- went up above us and caught nothing. As they walked back by us, I INSISTED they fish down from us- the guide wasn't going to- edicate... Phooey!! I said they had to and Brian and I and 3 clients from Sportsman's had 5 on at a time several times. Oh yea- gave them the magic bead so they had the right bead too. I bet between the 5 of us we caught 70 char in 2 hours. Largest was about 27 inches. Smallest was 22. They were really colored up nice- in spawning colors. Never saw it last year in Margot. Look at the pics!! I got video too but it'll be alittle bit before I have it edited. And yes bear- mom and 3 cubs came to eat below us... another bore and 4 more out in the lake eating dead sockeye. Pretty cool. More tomorrow. Smelled real nice!!! On the ride over. Fall Colors are already showing Alaska- land of rainbows Brian with a nice male We tried to catch a male and female at the same time to take this underwater pic side by side- we'll try again next trip over. Look at the colors... Just another char. Had to add some more pics... these are from Brian's camera. This was the big bore that came up behind us. Jeff, the guide from Sportsman's, although he was of short stature, did quick work of getting him to head upstream, then across the creek and in front of us. He didn't look happy.

Fishing has really slowed here. Best catching is drfiting in the current and dragging a bead- yes just like Taney!! If you drift a wooly any place you'll catch pinks and sockeye. Beads- sockeye, rainbows and char. Numbers aren't too bad but to be honest that's not what Bill and I came up here for. We're still trying to figure out the pattern. Last year and even 2 years ago the pinks were GONE along time ago and most of the sockeye were almost done spawning. Kings - also dead and gone. There's still LOTS of pinks and kings spawning and tons of sockeye all over the place. So we think that everything is 1-2 week behind, just like at the beginning of the season and for each salmon species that entered the river- behind. So right now the river is over ran with eggs of all kinds and our beads are just blending in. The spots where we slayed the rainbow last fall were concentrated spots on gravel bars and holes where the rainbows and char had gome at the end of the spawning period- they aren't there yet. So we'll wait- and go to Margot Creek tomorrow. Brian did fly to Ugashik today and had a great day catching up to 32 inch beautiful char.