Phil Lilley

The Norfork Special Recipe Hook: 2457 TMC size 12 Thread: UTC 70 Black Bead: Tungsten Bead 7/64 Tail: Pine squirrel (olive) Abdomen: SLF Original Blends # 14 Thorax: SLF Original Blends # 15 Legs: Sili legs in the barred style (olive/green) TYING INSTRUCTIONS I’m tying this on a size twelve, but it is really up to you on what size you want it to be tied in. I usually tie mine from size twelve when I’m fishing in lakes and creeks and for trout I tie from sizes fourteen down to twenty. I already sled my bead on and got my thread started and now I am ready to tie in the pine squirrel for the tail. Before tying this in, I like to only tie in the hide part with no hair on it until it gets to the bend of the hook. I like to tie in the piece at the front of the hook to make sure it is tied securely. Once you are at the bend you are ready to dub the body. I like to start the dubbing small at the start and then taper it up to the hook. You need to leave room for the legs and the collar of the other dubbing so remember not to tie all the way to the bead. Now cut about two strands of sili legs about an inch in length. Fold them around your thread and tie them down. You will notice that there not laying back at an angle. What you will want to do is tie back on the legs that are standing straight up just a little and that will give them that angle look. Now dub the collar with the other color dubbing. That will also give the legs a pushed back look. Whip the fly and glue it and you got a great pattern for all kinds of fish.

Mackie Bug Recipe Hook: 3769 TMC Size 10 Thread: UTC 140 Fl. Chartreuse Weight: .025 Abdomen: Super Bright Dubbing (black) Thorax: Super Bright Dubbing (Fl. Chartreuse) Rib: Copper wire (BR size) TYING INSTRUCTIONS This pattern was originated by Ed and Bob story. This is one of the best blue gill patterns ever. If you give this fly a shot I can guarantee you will not leave home without this!! Go ahead and wrap about six to eight turns of lead wire. After you do that you will want to start your thread and secure the lead wire from shifting so tie in front of the wire and behind it making several wraps of thread to lock it in place. This is called a thread dam. Tie in your wire right behind the lead and wind the thread until you almost to the bend. You still have to tie the legs so make sure you have a little of the straight part of the shank to work with. You should have a little room to work with at the bend. Grab the sili leg tie it in at the bend. I will talk more about this step in picture 8 and 9. Cut the legs evenly to the desired length you want. Tie the dubbing until you get just past the lead in the front. Wind your wire about six turns until you get to the front of the lead also. I am winding this the opposite direction. That will make the segmentations stand out more. This part might be a little tricky. I have notice people having trouble with getting the legs to look right. What you want to accomplish in this step is making the legs look like a “V on each side of the hook. You will have a total of four legs, two on the top and one on each side of the hook shank. How to do this correctly is by wrapping the legs around the thread and when you lay them down on the hook shank you will notice one going the right direction and the other one going forward. The key is to only do about two turns of thread and then fold the other one over and secure it. You will have to tie back on the leg a little to get it to fold back. Do the same thing to the other side. Now tie the other dubbing to finish the head and whip the fly. Glue it and your good to go.

You know where I stand.

It was the very last of the trip for them and fishing hadn't been as good as I wanted (no nice fat pretty rainbows for the show). Lots of fish but nothing of any size. They hooped up all the trout like they were good fish but I knew... and we'd been catching some very nice rainbows. We were drifting out of the hot area and past the KOA, a drift I had not made with them. We were talking and winding up the trip when I threw into the clay bank below the rock bank with a sculpin jig and wham- he hit. Kinda like the fish I caught with Steve Brigman last month- I was shocked and they were too. They had to turn the camera back on and got most of the fight on tape. I honestly don't remember how big it was- didn't measure or weigh it- sent it back to the water quickly cause I didn't want to hurt it, esp on camera. Six or seven pounds? It was a very beautiful rainbow and fought hard. They're getting alot of mileage out of that show.

You didn't vote

OK Bobber... then pick your favorite. Example- my home water would be Taney but that may not be my favorite. I'm looking for home but if it's too hard to figure out home then go to favorite.

It's really going to be cool when this poll gets going. It's worth it even for those who haven't to register just to tell us which forum you watch most (hint, hint). Come on- it's easy- vote!

What places do you fish besides Capps?

Is George going to the Caribbean?

Less of the same... less generation than before and warming surface temps are driving trout upstream toward the dam and bass are following. Yesterday evening Colton, a young man who is staying with us for the month of July, caught a dozen blue gills off the back side of our dock- today I saw another black bass sunny himself on our boat ramp- we have lots of tiny fry schooling along the edge of the bank- I think they're bass. Very strange summer indeed. Troutcam- dingy water. Not enough water running to change out the water that's here and boat traffic is stirring up the silt. But I did see something today that I haven't seen- a large school of rainbows moving across the screen. When rainbows are stocked, they tend to stay together for a while. Power bait fishing- eggs- continue to be hot especially down around Cooper and up by Riverlake. Bill said there's a bunch of trout in front of their dock- they are catching them on micro jigs under a float 5-6 feet deep, olive or sculpin. It's good all the way to Fall Creek. Some nicer rainbows stocked I guess- that's what I've seen come in at least. I talk about wind alot- for a reason. You can catch fish without wind but the difference is staggering if the wind is blowing just alittle. Jig and float or bait fishing, it doesn't matter. When they are running water, drifting an egg fly or jig and float using a white or pink micro is good as well as throwing a white jig straight. Me and Scott Bailey (aka griffin) got out for a couple of hours last evening and fished from Lookout down past the narrows and did fair. He did fair on a jig and float using a white and an olive jig and I caught a couple on a sculpin jig straight. When the water started about 6 pm I thought it'd pick up but really didn't. But we came in instead of heading closer to the dam where I think we would have done better. Fly fishing below the dam has been good. Linc fished a crackleback the other day when the chop was good and did real well. Beetle- small ones- are doing very good. Linc said there are tons of lady bugs up there.

Buck grew up in Forsyth. And I agree he's cut out to be an agent. Both him and Quinten are great people who are passionate about their work. But I can honestly say on Taney- their job is a bit overwhelming. Between the herons and poachers it's a wonder we have any trout in the upper lake.

Thanks for joining us John. I'm sure we'll be picking your brain in the future!! You must have tons of good stories to tell.

Home Waters: where you fish most. where your heart is. This will give us an idea where everyone's interests are. If you vote "other" post your home waters.

I'm not sure if I've ever heard of this group which would be unusual... but so is my memory- unusual. You mentioned KC... is this association part of a larger group, national? Like TU? If so, they should be governed by a regional board- but it doesn't sound like they are. I searched google and found nothing close to any association anyplace in the states. Not sure what the law could do. If they have bylaws and a charter and they aren't following them, they could be held responsible for mismanaging funds- not sure. As for their conduct- the park shouldn't let them back in and they should be blackballed by other lodges/parks. That's what we do basically. But bottom line, the members should take care of their organization if they care at all. It puts a bad light on the good fishing groups trying to do good and being responsible for their funds. If anyone has info on the web on this group, share it. I'm very curious.

Because they're not running much water right now the water along the bank gets merky- and there's algea growing on top of the water around the cleaning shack blocking sunlight- double-whammy! We had a light early in the year but it didn't make a whole lot of difference.

Wow- I've been in Juarez... Mike Abdon, our former agent, told me there's one word when talking to non speaking english violators- JAIL! They all knew what that meant. I hope no one thinks we are picking on spanish speaking people here. I enjoy their family-oriented customs and life styles and they are hard working people for the most part. But espanic populations are growing and spanish would be the #2 language needed to be used on signs.

Where are they putting in and out?

suckers- you got it.

Hatchery would know how to get ahold of an agent at 417-334-4865 or they will come down themselves and talk to the people in question but they can't write a ticket. Quinten cell is 417-294-5543

Did it have paying customers on it or were they just testing the waters?... not that you can tell one way or the other. I haven't heard anything about it. They didn't allow ducks before because the lake isn't wide enough there.

Bull Shoals has always been a hard lake to get information on. Not many guides fish the upper part. Mr Brown has posted a few times here and you're right, more information would be helpful. I've always stated that if guides prove their savy, not just with pics but being helpful and thorough, they will get trips from posting on any forum.

The law changed this year. You need a stamp if you're fishing above highway 65 bridge, regardless if you're keeping or releasing fish. Goes for everyone.

I think you're not to leave a line out more than 24 hours without checking it.

Send me the pic and I'll post it. phil@ozarkanglers.com