hfdhoosier

Sorry for the late report, first time I have had a chance to sit down at the computer since I got back. Fishing was good the whole ten days we were at Montauk. I fished 4 days in the park and 5 days at Tan Vat. The park was great at the spring and around the bend- picked up fish on white thread jig and 18-22 zebra midges. I had the most luck on red zebra midge with a gunmetal bead and black wire rib. From there down to the rapids before the stretch with the bluff, the water was slower and fewer takes. The stretch with the bluff was productive with dry cracklebacks size 14 and the red zebra midge again. My wife had success in this stretch on a mccheese globall and other shades of orange globalls. The shallow run from there down to the big rock was loaded with fish wanting the zebra midge and globalls. Caught a bunch of fish at the big rock on globalls. The fish were mainly stocker size but the bite was frequent enough to keep us busy landing fish. At Tan Vat the zebra midge, globalls of all colors were the ticket. Caught lots of 16+ inch fish including 3 browns. The last day I caught some nice browns on an olive wooly bugger stripping it and letting it swing with the current. Fish were aggressive with any fly that was moving, I even swung and stripped a 16 size dry elk hair caddis and they attacked it, not many takers on the caddis dry but as soon as it would swing and submerge they attacked it. Great weather and some good fishing made this trip very enjoyable.

A beautiful tan vat brown

The wife and I are headed down to do some trout fishing till the 22nd. We are staying at Eagles Park in a tent in slot 5. Anyone else going to Montauk? Stop by and say Hi if any of you get a chance.

I am going to Montauk March 12-20th so I am not going to make the opener. My partner at work is going to Bennett for the opener. We all have to get together sometime this year and fish. I miss the good times we had fishing together in the past.

I started out with a complete set up from walmart, then upgraded to a dogwood canyon outfit from bass pro. Both worked great, caught lots of fish. I now have a TFO set up, but still fish with the other set ups once in a while. To me the higher dollar set ups cast a lot smoother and easier but you can catch fish on any rod. Get an inexpensive set up and hook up with someone who has been flyfishing and have them show you the ropes. You will enjoy the flyrod experience.

http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?cb_00065=on&cb_00060=on&cb_00045=on&format=gif_default&period=7&site_no=07064440 at montauk http://waterdata.usgs.gov/mo/nwis/uv?site_no=07064533 Above Akers other spots can be found by searching for them on this site.

I wanted to say I had a great time also. Great meeting all of you. For those who didn't make it, you missed a great time. I am already planning the trip for next year. I just got back from Branson, we stayed till the 6th, fishing was great. Caught a big rainbow on the 5th in the riffles at rebar.

I am headed to Branson tomorrow, be staying till Jan. 6th. Looking forward to seeing you all on New Years Day.

I think it will be fun to watch MDC tell the angry mob at the trout parks on opening day that they can not fish with their felt soles. They ought to sell tickets to watch that.

The wife and I are in. Probably bring a meat and cheese tray and some diet 12 packs of soda.

Gavin, not being critical but it is Highland Illinois not Highlandville :-). I live there. They have alot of neat stuff, I get my round ball jig heads there 1/80th ounce,

It was great to meet all of you. All the food was great! The conversation was the best. Could have been warmer but Phils tarps made it barable. Nice to talk to Phil and Don again. Nice to meet Gary, Leonard, Gator, JDC, Terry, and Dave. Hope I didn't forget anyone. Fished on and off through the week and caught a bunch of bows. Brown and grey scuds were the tickets in size 14. Had to fish the outlets on some days because they were running water but got some low water fishing on Thursday and Friday. We drove back Friday and got caught in a snow storm around Eureka, luckily the storm was spotty and we got clear roads into St Louis and on to Highland Illinois. We had a great vacation, already planning to attend the get together next year. Happy New Year everyone.

We are on our way to Branson. See you all tomorrow. Looking forward to meeting you all.

I will be there! Always tried to make it in years past but something came up. Got my reservations made at the Falls Village, will be there 31st to 4th. Looking forward to meeting you all. Bringing my wife Sheila, who also fly fishes. Looking forward to seeing what all is on the menu for lunch......yummmmm.

The civil war battlefield campground is between eagles park and turn off to baptist on same side of road as eagles park. very long lane leading back to campground. Hope that helps you get a bearing where it is at. I have never stayed there but they helped Dave and Deb get their campground going. Deb says they are great people. Would probably stay there if eagles was ever sold and the new owners weren't nice.

Eagles Park is where I always stay. Dave and Deb run the campground and are great people. They did go to Hawaii for a relatives wedding this summer, that might explain the gate closed and locked. Bathrooms work as long as its over freezing, bathrooms not heated so water is shut off in freezing temps. Shower works but is primative, we usually go to park shower houses if in need of a shower. Let Dave or Deb know if other campers get rowdy, they will take care of the problem right away. They want a quiet campground and have refused to let partiers stay there in the past.

I am heading for taney this morning, will be down for 9 days. I have only fished taney once before so I can't really help with advice but will be following this thread for clues also. I will be with the Ozarkflyfishers club out of St Louis. Will be fishing up by the dam as wading allows. Someone tell the fish to get ready to cooperate .

Sounds like a great time had by all. I wish I could have made it. I am definitely up for a trip later this fall/ winter. Keep me posted. Anybody take any pics?

Good report......heading to Branson September 17-26th. Planning on heading your way a couple days and fishing Roaring River for the first time. Maybe more days if the fishing is good. Will stop by and say HI. Guess I am tying up some parachutes

I think we are all forgetting about the reason we fish. Its gotten to the point of size and numbers. I am not disagreeing that some streams we fish should be kept secret but I agree thay posting about a secret stream is nothing but bragging. This is a forum to help other fishermen enjoy the sport as much as we do by posting helpful advise. I also realize that specific streams do not always have to be mentioned to give advise on tackle, lures and fishing techniques. There are a lot of groups out there today that would love to take our fishing priviledges away. We should be concentrated on teaching or helping new fishermen to be successful on the stream to make sure our priveledges continue. I havent ever fished for smallmouth, but am a die hard trout fisher. Many people have helped me along the way and I will always be dedicated to helping others when and how I can. I have got more enjoyment through the years teaching new fishermen how to fly fish and catch a trout. If my stream is more crowded for that, then I guess I will just have to remember that a day on the stream is better than being at work. No offense intended towards anyone, there is room for differing opinions. But we all have to remember that promoting this sport is the only hope for it being around forever.

Here is a link http://happypappysmontaukrvpark.com/

I take 44 to St James and go to salem, then 19 to K to E to YY. Saves alot of time, pull my pop up that way. I usually stay at Eagles Park so it is convenient to come in the back way and avoid the road between the park and Eagles that has a mountain on one side and a large drop-off into the river on the other side. Don't like pulling a camper and taking the chance of meeting someone on that skinny road. I saw a guy drop a 28 foot camper off the side, lucky the trees caught his camper but had to have a wrecker upright his camper back onto the road. Only time I go to Rolla is when we want to stop at Sirloin Stockade, all you can eat steak, they lose money on me

I really liked the show. The couple are members of Ozarkflyfishers club here in St Louis. Nice couple. Glad to see they had a great day fishing. Good show and great exposure of the NFOW.

Good report and congrats on the nice fish. Did you fish any dries? Still working on getting off for the get together but it is not looking good.

The trout are too busy swarming your fly, the suckers cant get to it.