Phil Lilley

Well it wasn't the greatest day of fishing here... John Johnson and his crew from Kingfisher, OK arrived last night and fished today. They reported fishing was alittle tough although John and his son Jeff did pretty well early in the am on white jigs at the dam (by boat). But it tapered off quickly and the rest of the day was just "ok". In the afternoon they fished power eggs below Fall Creek and finished with their limits of rainbows for the fish fry scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Non-res Ark annual - $40 Non-res Mo annual - $40 Ark trout stamp - $12 Mo trout stamp - $7

Fox- is there any patterns on your site... pics... that I can link from the article?

For Immediate Release: February 22, 2007 A service of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation News Contacts: Michael Bergin or Micah Holmes (405) 521-3856 Web site: www.wildlifedepartment.com 2007 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo to include new Outdoor Marketplace Applications available now for Wildlife Department Youth Camp Wildlife Department employment exam scheduled Outdoor Calendar Fishing Report 2007 Oklahoma Wildlife Expo to include new Outdoor Marketplace Oklahomans interested in the outdoors should mark their calendars now for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation's third annual Oklahoma Wildlife Expo slated for September 28-30 at the Lazy E Arena. The Wildlife Department will be working with a range of organizations, individuals and outdoor-related companies to host the Expo - an event intended to promote and develop appreciation for Oklahoma's wildlife and natural resources. "The Expo is the state's largest indoor and outdoor recreation event," said Greg Duffy, director of the Wildlife Department. "Literally thousands of people get a chance to enjoy the outdoors and maybe experience something new." Among many other activities, Expo visitors will be able to fish, shoot shotguns, kayak, ride mountain bikes, see and touch wildlife, attend dog training seminars and learn about recreation in the great outdoors. They will also be able to win a variety of free prizes thanks to the Expo's generous sponsors. New this year, the Expo will feature the Outdoor Marketplace, a large tent where commercial vendors will be selling their hunting and fishing-related merchandise, services and memberships to outdoor organizations. "We are confident that the Outdoor Marketplace will be a good addition to the Expo," Duffy said. "It will be one more thing for visitors to enjoy, and it will give Oklahoma's outdoor businesses one more way to showcase their products and services at an event that offers maximum exposure to the state's outdoor-minded individuals." Log on to wildlifedepartment.com regularly to stay up to date on the upcoming Oklahoma Wildlife Expo. For more information about obtaining a booth in the Outdoor Marketplace or to obtain an application for a booth, contact Rhonda Hurst, Wildlife Expo Coordinator at (405) 522-6279. -30- Applications available now for Wildlife Department Youth Camp Youth interested in wildlife, fisheries and law enforcement can apply now to attend the ninth annual Oklahoma Wildlife Department Youth Camp scheduled for June 10-15. "This camp is free, and youth get a chance to learn about several interesting careers in wildlife conservation," said Jon Cunningham, camp coordinator and Oklahoma game warden stationed in Payne County. Held at Camp McFadden near Ponca City, the camp is open to Oklahoma youths ages 14 to 16 and is designed to give an increased awareness of protecting and managing Oklahoma's wildlife resources. Participants will attend courses in firearms handling, wildlife law enforcement, wildlife and fisheries biology, water safety, self-defense, rifle and shotgun training, waterfowl hunting and archery. The camp is free of charge, but will be limited to 35 participants. Applicants should be interested in fish and wildlife management or law enforcement and must submit a 75-word essay explaining why they want to attend the camp, why they believe they should be selected and what they expect to learn while attending. They must also submit a letter of recommendation from a person of their choice other than a family member. The application deadline is April 27, and applicants must turn 14 prior to June 10, 2007. Obtain applications by logging on to the Wildlife Department's Web site at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/campap.htm. Simply print off the application, fill it out and mail it in with the essay and letter of recommendation to: Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, Law Enforcement Division Youth Camp, P.O. Box 53465 Oklahoma City, OK 73152. -30- Wildlife Department employment exam scheduled? The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation will be holding an open employment exam Friday, March 30. Taking the test is the first step in the hiring process for individuals seeking positions as game wardens, biologists, fish hatchery assistant managers or technicians with the Department. The standardized employment exam is set for 10 a.m. at the Tom Steed Development Center Auditorium located on the Rose State College campus. The Center is located immediately north of I-40 on Hudiburg Road in Midwest City. The exam is free, and participants must have photo identification upon check-in. Late arrivals will not be permitted to enter the examination room after 10 a.m. Specific job and education requirements for Department positions as well as suggested study material for the exams are listed on the Department's official Web site at http://www.wildlifedepartment.com/jobs.htm. Individuals may take the exam once in a 12-month period. Test scores are valid for 12 months from the test date, and top scorers will be invited to submit an employment application. When a job opening becomes available, selected applicants from the test register will be scheduled for an interview. For more information, contact the Wildlife Department's Human Resources office at (405) 521-4640. -30- OUTDOOR CALENDAR MARCH 12 & 13 & 15: Hunter Education: Bass Pro Shop (101 Bass Pro Dr.), Broken Arrow; 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.; (918) 355-7600, ask for promotion manager. 12 & 13 & 15: Hunter Education: Bass Pro Shop (101 Bass Pro Dr.), Broken Arrow; 6:30 p.m. - 9 p.m.; (918) 355-7600, ask for promotion manager. 14 & 15: Hunter Education: Francis Tuttle 1400A (12777 N Rockwell), OKC; 5:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.; (405) 521-4636. 16 & 17: Stars over the Wichitas interpretive program. The public is invited to participate in an evening with the stars where they will study major constellations and other heavenly bodies with the assistance from an amateur astronomer. The two hour program begins 30-minutes after sunset. Participants will meet at the Boulder/Lost Lake picnic area. Program is limited to 15 people and participants must be at least eight years of age. Registration is required and a $5 fee will be collected. Reservations can be made by call (580) 429-3222. 17: Hunter Education: High School, Sallisaw; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. 17: Hunter Education: Civic Center, Wagoner; 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.; 23-25: The Third Annual Oklahoma Selfbow Jamboree, hosted by the Rutter family. The farm has a three-acre pond next to the campsite, where those who wish can fish. A small covered pavilion will serve as the center of activities. Portable out-houses will be provided, and limited trailer camping is available. There is sufficient room for primitive (tent) camping. For directions and additional information go to www.ojam.org. 26: Hunter Education, High Plains Tech Center, Woodward. 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 26: Hunter Education Home Study, Bass Pro (200 Bass Pro Drive), OKC; 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. (405) 218-5200 30: Standardized Employment Exam, at Rose State College, Tom Steed Building, Auditorium, I-40 & Hudiburg Rd, Midwest City. Exam starts at 10 am. Bring a photo ID. 30 & 31: Project WILD for college credit at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater. Class runs from 4 p.m. - 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.. For more information or to enroll call Education Outreach at 800-765-8933. FISHING REPORT FEBRUARY 21, 2007 CENTRAL Hefner: Water 40 and clear. Crappie being caught slip corking off the dam. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. Overholser: Water 44 and murky. Crappie being caught around docks. Report submitted by Kelly Roberson, game warden stationed in Oklahoma County. NORTHEAST Carl Blackwell: Elevation 4 ft. below normal, water 42 and murky. Crappie fair in deeper water on small jigs. Report submitted by Jon Cunningham, game warden stationed in Payne County. Copan: Elevation 2 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie good at 14-15 ft. on chartreuse or black and pink tube jigs from the bank. Catfish fair to good on juglines in or near the river channel. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, state game warden stationed in Washington County. Eucha: Elevation slightly above normal, water 43 and clear. Crappie good on jigs and minnows at 15-16 ft. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Ft. Gibson: Elevation normal and clear. Channel catfish good on juglines in the river channel and around drop-offs on whole shad. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. Report submitted Don Cole, game warden stationed in Wagoner County. Grand: Elevation normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on juglines at 20 ft. on cut shad. Crappie fair around baited docks on minnows and jigs. Report submitted by Jim Littlefield, game warden stationed in Delaware County. Greenleaf: Elevation normal and clear. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and stink bait on bottom along creek channels and points. Channel catfish fair on cut bait and stink bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs around fishing dock and brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. Hulah: Elevation 2 ft. below normal and murky. Crappie good at 14-15 ft. on chartreuse or black/pink tube jigs from the bank. Catfish fair to good on jug lines in or near the river channel. Report submitted by Marni Loftis, state game warden stationed in Washington County. Kaw: Elevation normal, water 42 and clear. Crappie good at 22 ft. around both marina boat slips. The average size is 3/4 lbs. Most crappie are being caught from brush piles that have been placed in areas close to natural structure, drop-offs and riprap. The riprap on the Washunga Bay Bridge and Sarge Creek Bridge are historically good areas and good from the upper Arkansas River to the dam. There are brush piles that have been placed by the Wildlife Department, and these areas are marked with fishing buoys. When fishing from a boat, a depth finder is necessary to find the brush. Generally, if your lure or minnow is not in close proximity to the brush (approximately 2 ft. or closer), the fish won't see your bait. When fishing for crappie, try using 1/8 oz jigs with 2-inch body, black and green. Ten lb. supper lines (fire line) helps the abrasive effects of the zebra mussels or minnows. Blue catfish will pickup as the water temps edge closer to 50. Jug fishing with cut bait is a very effective technique with hooks set at 5 ft. intervals from 5 ft. to 30 ft. When fish are caught concentrate hooks and bait in the productive zone. The best areas are the upper portion of the lake in the river channel. Trotlines are also very effective, most anglers use fresh gizzard shad cut into pieces caught with a cast net in the same area. Fishing below Kaw dam has been slow due to limited amount of water being released through the dam. Report submitted by Larry Green, game warden stationed in Osage County. Keystone: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 38-42 and clear to murky. Largemouth, smallmouth and spotted bass slow to fair on jig and chunk and suspended baits at 8-15 ft. off points, bluffs and ledges. White bass slow to fair on jigging spoons and minnows at 15-25 ft. in river channel drop-offs. Striped bass below the dam slow on red fins and Long-A bombers at 2-4 ft. early mornings and cloudy days. Striped bass in the lake slow on live shad and big swim baits at 15-25 ft. in river channel drop-offs. Channel catfish slow to fair on worms and shrimp at 8-15 ft. in creeks. Blue catfish fair to good on shad at 15-20 ft. along ledgers and humps. Flathead catfish slow on goldfish at 12-20 ft. along riprap. Crappie fair to good on small jigs and minnows at 15-25 ft. around docks and brush piles. Saugeye fair on 1/8 oz jigs tipped with minnows or crawlers at 4-8 ft. downstream to pedestrian bridge. Report submitted by Larry Sellers, Woody's Bait and Tackle. Oologah: Elevation normal, water in the lower 40s and clear. Crappie fair on jigs around brush piles at 20 ft. Report submitted by Brek Henry, game warden stationed in Rogers County. Skiatook: Elevation 12 ft. below normal, water 38 and clear. Fishing generally poor, but warming temperatures should improve things by the weekend. Crappie fair on minnows at docks. Report submitted by Greenwood Fishing Center. Spavinaw: Elevation slightly above normal, water 40 and clear. Crappie fair on jigs and minnows around dam area. Largemouth bass fair on jigs. Report submitted by Dwight Moore, City of Tulsa Fisheries. Tenkiller: Elevation 2 ft. above normal, water 38 and clear in the upper end. Catfish fair mid-lake on flip flops with cut shad at 30-40 ft. Crappie slow with some action in the upper and lower ends around docks or brush. Report by Monte Brooks, Cookson Village Resort. Webbers Falls: Elevation 1 ft. above normal and murky. Largemouth bass slow. Channel catfish fair on cut bait on bottom. Crappie fair on minnows and jigs at 12 ft. around brush structure. Report submitted by Lark Wilson, game warden stationed in Muskogee County. SOUTHEAST Arbuckle: Elevation normal, water 41 and clear to stained. Due to weather, not many fisherman on lake. Bass best on jig and pig off bluffs. Report submitted by Jack Melton. Blue River: Elevation normal, water 47 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on minnows and flies. Channel catfish fair on liver and worms. Trout good on power bait, super dupers, rooster tails and meal worms. Report submitted by Charles Baker, technician at Blue River Public Fishing and Hunting Area. Eufaula: Elevation 1 1/2 ft. below normal and murky. Largemouth bass and white bass slow. Blue catfish fair on shad at 6-20 ft. off flats. Crappie fair on jigs or minnows at 12-20 ft. around boat docks. Report submitted Ed Rodebush, game warden stationed in McIntosh County. Hugo: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 45 and murky. Largemouth bass fair on spinnerbaits. Crappie fair on live minnows. Blue catfish fair on liver and cut bait. Report submitted by Wendell Smalling, game warden stationed in Choctaw County. Konawa: Elevation normal, water 44 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on cut baits off points and along roadbeds at 8-10 ft. White bass and striped bass hybrids good on minnows and jigs in the discharge channel at 15 ft. Report submitted by Daryl Howser, game warden stationed in Seminole County. McGee Creek: Elevation 1/2 ft. above normal, water 46 and clear. Largemouth bass fair on soft plastic lures, fished slow over deep drop-offs. White bass fair on grubs, fished along windy points. Report submitted by Larry Luman, game warden stationed in Atoka County. Lower Mountain Fork River: Trout good on March brown mayflies and dry flies. Emerging mayfly and midge fly patterns have also worked well at times. The powerhouse seems to be releasing water daily, but the schedule is erratic. Report submitted by Sid Ingram, Beavers Bend Fly Shop. Pine Creek: Elevation above normal, water 45 and murky. Bass good on crankbaits around points. Crappie fair around tops on jigs. Catfish good on cut shad on juglines. Report submitted by Mark Hannah, game warden stationed in McCurtain County. Robert S. Kerr: Elevation normal, water 41 and murky. Largemouth bass slow at 8-10 ft. using jigs and plastic baits fishing the rock and riprapped areas next to the old channels. Crappie fair at 10 ft. using small minnows fishing the old creek channels. White bass slow at 10 ft. using jigs fishing below the Webbers Falls and Kerr dams. Blue catfish fair using fresh cut bait fishing from the windy shorelines. Report submitted by Rick Olzawski, game warden stationed in Haskell County. Sardis Lake: Elevation 3 ft. below normal. Largemouth bass slow to fair off points and around islands on crankbaits and crawdads. White bass good around islands trolling rattle traps and below the dam on grubs. Catfish fair on trotlines and juglines baited with cut shad in deep flats and channels. Crappie good on minnows around bridges and tower. Walleye fair on jigs and grubs below the dam. Report submitted by Allen Couch, game warden stationed in Pushmataha County. Texoma: Elevation normal, water 46 and clear. Largemouth and smallmouth bass fair on deep-diving baits at 15-20 ft. deep along drop offs. Striped bass fair on live bait at 15-20 ft. in the coves. Channel and blue catfish fair on live minnows at 15-20 ft. above the highway 70 bridge. Crappie fair on small minnows and jigs at 10-15 ft. in underwater brush. Report submitted by Danny Clubb, game warden stationed in Bryan County. Wister: Elevation 1- 1 1/2 ft. above normal. Largemouth bass slow. Crappie good on minnows and jigs. Channel catfish good on cut shad. Report submitted by Randy Fennell, game warden stationed in LeFlore County. SOUTHWEST Ellsworth: Elevation 13 ft. below normal. Crappie fair at Ralph's Resort at 12-15 ft. Catfish fair off rocky points on cut bait. Report submitted by Mike Carroll, game warden stationed in Comanche County. Foss: Elevation 5 ft. below normal, water 38 and clear. Striped bass hybrids good on slabs in deep water near the dam. Walleye good in deep water. Crappie good around structures. Catfish fair. Report submitted by Eric Puyear, B & K Bait House. Ft. Cobb: Elevation 1 3/4 ft. below normal. Crappie slow to fair around marina and boat slips. Saugeye slow to fair along east end of dam. Report submitted by James Edwards Jr., game warden station in Caddo County. Tom Steed: Crappie good on jigs 15-20 ft. over brush piles. Report submitted by David Smith, game warden stationed in Kiowa County. Waurika: Elevation normal, water 38 and murky. Blue catfish fair on shad and punch bait. Report submitted by Phillip Cottrill, game warden stationed in Jefferson County.

Having software problems... probably going to have to buy another kind. Sent in a trouble ticket but no response.

This will be developed into an article... so give it your best shot. We spent the morning cruising around and fishing some banks and flats, looking for crappie. We fished in 8 to 24 feet of water and stayed close to the bottom. My question- how do YOU locate early season crappie on Table Rock or any other lake? I know everyone has spots- that's a given. But if your spots aren't producing or you're going out cold-turkey, what do you look for? Depth of water- structure- gravel- mud- pole timber- ledge rock??? This is a real great question for those who who feel like they don't have a clue most of the time when fishing for crappie. I know most of fishing is raw confidence in where and how you're fishing... this may instill a little of confidence for some who read the responses.

Met Jeremy Rasnick and his dad at the ramp at 7:15 this am at Cricket Creek Marina. Headed to the big point just down from the mouth of Yocum Creek and fished 20 feet of water. Nothing. Headed to the left bank up in Yocum where I caught a slab crappie on a white jig. About 8 feet of water. Then we left and headed up in Cricket where Jeremy caught a crappie on the right bank about a 1/2 mile from the mouth of Long on the right bank/flat in 10 feet of water. Then his dad caught one more crappie in about the same water about 200 yards towards Long, same bank. So spotty report. Water stained and 48-50 degrees.

http://templeforkflyrods.com/index.html Here's their site.

I think they sometime simply get too close to the 'drain' and get sucked in.

Dave- the images are too big to load on the forum. Email them to me and I'll fix it. phil at lilleyslanding.com

Thanks so much Fox... I took the liberty and added your offering to the article posted on the White River forum and gave you credit and a link to your website. One question- out of your collection of fly patterns, do you any favorites for this application?

No need for a complex... One fatality on the lake was cause by a man, wife and a daughter drifting in the Short Creek area, dragging 2 anchors off the side on the boat to "slow them down". they'd done this for a full week- were at the end of their vacation- and the anchor caught. The boat was under in less than 5 seconds. The wife and daughter were pulled out but the man didn't make it. I talked to his wife a week later- she had come back to see that the boat was taken care of. She said no one had told them all week what they were doing was wrong or dangerous. Their boat- an 18 ft Lund-type v-bottom... high sides and all. So don't take offense to either what I say or Bill. We're a little touchy about the subject... cause it's important.

Thread fin shad kills and their impact on tailwater fisheries No one knows when it will happen -- the telltale conditions are sometimes sketchy -- but when it happens, it’s the best time to be fishing below dams that are affected. To what phenomenon am I referring? Shad kills occur in reservoirs such as Beaver, Table Rock, Bull Shoals, Norfork, Greer’s Ferry, and even Grand, Truman and Lake of the Ozarks. Thread fin shad are specifically named Dorosoma Petenense. The Dorosoma is Greek for "lance body,” referring to the lance-like shape of young shad. The word petenense refers to Lake Peten in the Yucatan, the species type locality. Threadfin shad are usually easily distinguished from gizzard shad by the way the upper jaw does not project beyond the lower jaw. The anal fin usually has 20-25 rays, as opposed to 29-35 rays found in gizzard shad. The upper surface is silver-blue and grades to nearly white on the sides and belly. All fins have a yellow tint except the dorsal. In this species, unlike gizzard shad, the chin and floor of the mouth are speckled with black pigment. Adults are considerably smaller than gizzard shad adults, rarely exceeding six inches in length. It seems two things need to happen for shad to wash into our tailwaters -- cold temperatures and the shad “getting too close to the fire.” Thread fin shad die naturally in the winter if water temperatures drop below the mid-40s. If temps drop into the upper 30s, more shad die making it more likely shad will appear. The “fire” I allude to is the pipe that leads to the turbines and the tailwater below. Dams in the Ozarks’ region all vary in height and penstock location. Table Rock Dam’s penstocks are at 130 feet deep, so shad have to be near that level to be sucked through When shad enter that tailwater, they are either dead or dying. Many are chewed up, but some are still kicking, fluttering around like sick minnows. Either way they are easy pickings for trout and other fish to devour. Shad will come in waves, or they will trickle through the dam a few at a time. Once the eaters get wind of the run and start targeting shad, they gorge themselves, extending their bellies as far as possible… and then some more. It’s a great sight for anglers who like seeing fat fish and the prospect of even bigger fish in the future. Shad runs get our trout well-needed growth boosts. The trick is fishing at the right time, as in most fishing situations, but it’s not necessarily dependant on the time of day or weather patterns. The perfect time is NOT during a heavy flow of shad because your lure gets lost in the sea of white, and it’s NOT after a heavy flow because the fish are FULL. Since there’s really no way to predict these conditions, the best solution is just to GO fishing. Helpful hint: If you find yourself in one of those situations, use something other than a white jig or crank bait; try another color and size like a dark-colored jig or a San Juan Worm. You might have better luck with something like that. When spin fishing from a boat, of course, a white jig is one of the best baits during a shad run. Size depends on how much water is running. I like to “drift” a jig close to the bottom during a run, hovering it in the water column like a drifting, stunned or dead shad. If a lot of water is running, a ¼ oz or 1/8-ounce jig will work. If a minimal amount of water is flowing, use something smaller like 3/32 or 1/16-ounce. I throw to the side, not upstream or downstream, and let the jig fall, giving it slack, until I feel it’s at the right depth. Keeping the rod tip high, I will slightly lift the rod tip even higher, reeling a bit to “keep track” of the jig’s location. Sometimes in a tailwater, water is flowing in turbulent patterns, moving up and down in the column that will take the jig in a direction that leaves you hanging. You can’t feel the bite unless you have a direct line from rod tip to the lure. Lifting the rod every five to eight seconds keeps you in control of the jig instead of the current leading it. Jigs can be dressed up with flash-a-bou and tinsel to give them that translucent look of a shad. Combining marabou colors such as gray/white or white with a slither of black will trigger a bite when plain white will not. Spoons and crank baits will work during shad runs, too, but I have not had real good luck with them. One technique used on the White River is to slow the boat down with a trolling motor, throw a KastMaster or Crocodile white spoon out the back of the boat at a 45-degree angle and let the spoon swing slowly behind the boat, keeping if off the bottom as it swings. A floating rapala can be drifted using a simple drift rig. The bait shouldn’t get hung up, but just make sure it’s a floating bait. Many fly fishermen don’t like the idea of fishing out of a boat. They’re in love with their waders and like their feet to be planted on solid ground – at least mushy mud, sand or gravel, anyway. But I love fishing out of a boat, especially if it enhances the chance of catching more fish. Believe me, during a shad run, you want to be in a boat. What you use and how you use it varies with water conditions, just as when spin fishing. The harder the water is running, the more difficult to it is to present a fly or jig effectively. That’s simply because of the turbulants, not the depth or speed of the water. One of the best ways is to use a jig and float. Throwing this rig isn’t fun, though. The float must be big enough to float a 1/32 or 1/16-ounce jig, depending on generation. The jig needs to be down and stay down. If your jig is wandering around beneath your float and a fish picks it up, the strike may go unnoticed because the float won’t do anything. Vary the depth and see where the trout want the jig, deep or shallow. If they’re taking shad off the surface, then set the jig shallow. Using a sinking line will work, but you have to pay attention to current and turbulants. You’ll have to continually strip the line to keep track of the fly, not fast but slow. I like to slow the boat down and fish out the back of the boat. That permits me keep better control of my drift. I can control the fly’s depth and will be able to feel a strike better. With this technique it’s best to use shad patterns such as white woolly buggers, bunny shad, clousers, white zonkers or even jigs. How far down you fish from the dam makes a difference at times. Finding that “happy medium” is where fish haven’t seen the gobs and gobs of shad recently. On the White River, that may be 10 miles downstream. On Taneycomo it could be a mile or two. The White River definitely sees more shad, maybe because their dam isn’t as high as Table Rock’s… not sure. Norfork’s is even lower and, thus, has more shad runs. I’ve experienced fishing these shad runs below Bull Shoals and Norfork. They can be pretty spectacular! The bottom line is that you have to get out and fish these shad kill events -- and you have to at least try to fish them from a boat. If you don’t, you’re missing something pretty special! Taneycomo Note: I’ve been asked how far down lake the shad can drift. I’ve seen them as far downstream as Rockaway Beach. How much shad can come through at one time? I’ve seen millions at a time. One winter the shad were coming through so thick that they were washing up in eddies along the banks. I remember when the water dropped, the shoreline looked like it had snowed in some areas below the dam where there were so many piles of shad on the bank, in trees and on rocks. As far as timing, I have seen shad as early as mid-December and as late a mid-June. The June event was a freak occurrence I believe. Most of the time the runs end in April. White River Note by John Wilson: From what I can tell shad kills occur under conditions that will bring shad close to the intakes or hold them in a section of water that allows them to be pulled through the dams. There are two major seasons when shad will come through the dam at Bull Shoals and Norfork Dam. The lesser known one is during the summer time. These occasions are often referred to as a shad kill. However it is more likely the extreme decompression of going from 300 feet deep to 0 feet within a matter of seconds that does the job. People also often assume that the shad are chopped up by the turbines. Actually the shad come through the generators whole and intact. If it were not for an extreme case of the bends you could not tell that anything was wrong with them. During the summer the upper levels of the lake stratify. The first 50 feet or so of the lake will warm and the current flows across the upper sections of the lake. A thermocline forms and the shad will travel along the bottom of the thermocline where the water is cooler. Summer means we have high electrical demand thus more generation. The extra generation will actually create a current in the lower sections of the lake. Shad which have searched out the cooler waters of the depths of the lake will be pulled through the intakes. I generally see summer shad kills in August and September when generation is high and the weather is hot. The most famous shad event happens during January through March. As we have cooler temperatures the surface of the lake begins to cool. Water actually reaches it's highest density at about 40 degrees. Cooler than that and it starts to expand again. This cooler water sinks to the bottom of the lake and brings up the low oxygen water off the bottom. There will be mixing currents of cool descending water and low oxygen water forming pockets within the lake. Shad will attempt to stay in the pockets of good water and these will vary in depth and size depending on weather and conditions. Often you will see striper fishermen on the lake finding these pockets on their depth finders. They paint those pockets of shad and stripers in the lake with electronics. If there is a fair amount of generation it is a matter of time before those shad find their way through the generators. It is impossible to predict how much shad will come through the dam at any one time. Usually if you have extreme temperatures either hot or cold combined with a large demand for generation it is a good bet that shad aren't far behind. If you are on the river some of the clues to look for are gulls diving at the dam, fish hitting your white indicator, and of course shad lining the banks or floating in eddies. The shad kills can be exciting fishing. I've seen 30 inch browns taking shad off the surface like sipping a #22 dry fly. When they get turned on to shad they often throw caution to the wind. Normally selective fish will begin striking everything from white indicators to simple white flies. The guides here on the White River have gotten really plugged in to the shad kills over the last decade. it can often be the best opportunity of landing the fish of a lifetime. John Wilson is a guide on the White and Norfork Tailwaters. http://www.flyfishingarkansas.com/

OK... I was running when I posted cause Bill was hungry and crying... so I just posted the pics and left. Bill had a friend of his from Camdenton here for the day- Mark- and I hopped in and went along. Yes white jigs- 1/8th oz. They were building the generation most of the time we were out there- 9 am till noon. We caught alot of trout... about 1 brown for every 3 rainbows. Bill biggest brown was pushing 19 inches. I tried to take pics of all the "nice" trout but finally gave up- way too many. Bill wouldn't pose for any after a while- we lost several at the boat- it wasn't gang busters by any means- averaged 10 on every drift from the cable to KOA. The wind was tough- blowing upstream but that's the best direction it can blow if it's going to- keep the rod tips low to the water and crank slowly. Didn't lose too many jigs either- lucky.

Any size? I assume they had fat bellies?

Didn't get out today. Got back from Lawrence about 1 pm and had to catch up with things here. Our dock hand is still on vacation so dad and I have had to work the dock. Hope to get out tomorrow early for a few drifts. MyDucky dropped by this afternoon. He said he saw people catching trout at the dam- those in boats at least. One big brown landed and put on a stringer by someone in a boat he said. Tony Wedele, one of our guides, had a good afternoon. They did well at the dam on white jigs, nothing huge but most good fish. He did best drifting from Lookout down to Fall Creek using a white flat fish rigged carolina-style, drifting on the channel side of the lake. He said they were really "whacking" it. Power Bait fishing and drifting minnows from Fall Creek down was good today. No wind and almost 70 is a good day even if the fish don't bite!

Anchoring takes thought. First, if anchoring will help you catch fish? Most of the time it won't. Better to drift. There are places along the bank- eddies and cuts- where fish will hold and wait for food to drift by. Those places are good but again, you have to look and plan your attack. Be ready to cut the line if you get in trouble. Don't anchor off the sides or back of a boat- only off the front and only if the front of the boat is high- not close to the water. You don't want the boat to get sucked under the water.

Are you coming back for the tournament?

Quickly- leaving for Lawrence in minutes. Bill called me at 10:15 and said they were tearing up the trout below the dam. I was going up to pick up his camera, rob some pics for my presentation, but I had to fish too! I caught a dz trout, most 15 inches and up on white 1/8th oz jig. He can tell you more about the morning later when he gets in... and more pics cause I didn't have a cord for his camera. Here are my pics- I could have taken a bunch more but I didn't want to stop fishing (catching).

Spring River is running muddy... but there's whites in Sycamore Creek... got it on a good report. Friend of mine caught dozens on Sunday evening.

I don't remember catching them in BS- now TR I have. Will have to target them if I get to go... they are great eating.

I think it was down below Rockaway Beach on the opposite side. You got to it off E 76.

I've seen people leave the dock, not knowing how to steer or accelerate and get them backwards while leaving the stall. I thank the Lord when they return safely. Jon boats with small motors are pretty fool proof; bass boats are another thing. Pontoons, well they are big and clumsy and get beat around but seldom does anyone get hurt on them. There have been several fatalities on Table Rock, one that I can remember recently, involving a guide and the USCG cracked down on guides, even though the guide was certified (Bill, correct me if I'm wrong). In Missouri they have a boat lisc now if you're of a certain age which is a good thing but that doesn't give people experience. Heck, if you buy a boat, there's no class how to use it or operate it. You can pull off the trailer and immediately send the boat down the river at 70 mph! Bottom line, people have to die before anything is done. What is done is sometimes justified, most of the time overkill- knee jerk reaction. As for Arkansas, they'll do something one of these days to tighten up guide licensing. Might as well go ahead and get your 6-pack... then we can call you Captain Davy!

Do I carry circle hooks? That sounds bad... I know I ordered some to check out... must have made it to the shop and on a shelf. What am I chargin' for them? I got them from Hagens. I'm looking at the catalog now. They have Eagle Claw 15/0... is that big enough for ya!? Vanadium makes a #6, sport and sure set That's the smallest in Hagens.